What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating hairstyling methods to improve the effectiveness of scalp cooling in preventing hair loss caused by chemotherapy in patients with skin of color who have breast, non-small cell lung, or gynecologic cancer. The study also aims to understand how scalp cooling affects persistent hair loss after chemotherapy and to explore molecular mechanisms and biomarkers linked to scalp cooling success. This focus arises because scalp cooling has been less effective in patients with type 3 (curly) and type 4 (kinky) hair, common in people with skin of color, due to difficulty fitting cooling caps tightly over bulkier hair. Participants will use one of two hairstyling techniques before scalp cooling: either braids, cornrows, or twists, or a water and conditioner emulsion applied to the hair. These approaches aim to reduce hair volume and improve contact between the cooling cap and the scalp. Scalp cooling devices will then be applied during chemotherapy, which includes taxane-based treatments. The study will follow patients through their chemotherapy cycles and up to six months after treatment ends to assess hair preservation and long-term effects. During the study, researchers will collect hair samples to perform molecular analyses and measure gene expression changes related to chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Participants' hair preservation and distress related to hair loss will be evaluated up to six months after chemotherapy, totaling about 11 months of observation from the start of treatment. The study monitors safety and treatment effects while exploring predictive biomarkers through non-invasive testing methods.

Scalp Cooling for Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Patients of Color