Efficacy and Tolerability of Two Scalp Cooling Systems for the Prevention of Alopecia Associated with Docetaxel Treatment

In a 2013 study, researchers assessed the effectiveness of two scalp cooling systems, Paxman® PSC-2 machine (PAX) and cold cap (CC), in preventing hair loss in 238 patients undergoing docetaxel chemotherapy for solid tumors. Patients were divided into three groups: PAX (128 patients), CC (71 patients), and no cooling (39 patients). The study found that scalp cooling significantly reduced the incidence of severe alopecia (WHO grade III or IV) or the need for a wig, with 23% in the PAX group, 27% in the CC group, and 74% in the no cooling group experiencing hair loss under 3-weekly docetaxel. Under weekly docetaxel, these numbers were 7% for PAX, 8% for CC, and 17% for no cooling. The combined use of scalp cooling systems reduced the risk of alopecia by 78%. Both PAX and CC were equally effective, and adverse events were minimal, with 5% of patients reporting cold sensations and 13% discontinuing after the first cycle. The study concluded that scalp cooling is an effective method to prevent hair loss in patients receiving chemotherapy.