A Limb Hypothermia Wearable for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Mixed-Methods Approach in Medical Product Development

Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) is a common dose-limiting side-effect of taxane-based chemotherapy, causing progressive and often irreversible pain/sensitivity in the hands and feet. Prevention/treatments for CIPN are not well-developed and urgently needed. Limb cryocompression during chemotherapy has demonstrated promising early data of preventing/reducing CIPN severity. Currently there are no medical devices available that are dedicated to the specific requirements of CIPN prevention. As part of our ongoing development of a dedicated CIPN-prevention limb cryocompression system, this study documents the design & development of the wearable arm wrap, a central component of the system, from initial concept to a trial-ready prototype. A collaborative and multidisciplinary approach was adopted to address the complex and high-risk nature of this SME (Small Medium Enterprise)-centered medical device design & development process. The complementary collaboration unites multidisciplinary expertise spanning the scope of the project. Alongside the clinical, academic, and design & development expertise, the integration of commercial expertise is imperative to promote the market viability, and ultimate success, of the development. As the global leading experts in scalp cooling specializing in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia, UK-based SME Paxman Coolers Ltd is optimally positioned to support the commercial and regulatory dimensions. Development and adoption of a novel mixed-methodology (HudPAX) facilitated the integration of evidence-based and user-centered techniques to optimize the design & development approach and ensure integration of all critical design inputs. Alpha prototypes were designed through evidence-based approaches, with data from existing clinical trials utilized to determine the preliminary design inputs, alongside 3D ergonomic data. Investigations utilized computer-aided design, rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing, sketch modeling, and fast ideation. User-based approaches facilitated stakeholder-feedback through expert focus groups, informing further design & development and projecting the design into the next stage, Beta prototyping, for use in large-scale efficacy trials and upscaling manufacturing. This paper demonstrates a novel mixed-methods approach, which promotes cross-sector multidisciplinary collaboration, to address the complex multi-layered challenges posed by an early-stage medical device design & development process.

Real-world data on usage of scalp cooling for chemotherapy associated alopecia in the United States

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Background: Hair loss is a well-known side effect of chemotherapy. The Paxman Hair Loss Prevention System, a scalp cooling device, has been shown to be effective in reducing chemotherapy induced alopecia in patients receiving chemotherapy (Nangia, JAMA, 2017). The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the European Society for Medical Oncology guidelines have recommended scalp cooling as category 2A and 2B options, respectively. Methods: The real world use of scalp cooling using the Paxman device, as documented by orders through the Paxman Hub during the years of 2017-2020 was summarized. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographics and utilization. Results: Data from 6649 patients who used scalp cooling were reviewed. Patients with breast cancer were the most common users of scalp cooling (78%, n=5197) followed by gynecology (12%, n=775), gastrointestinal (3%, n=201), lung (1%, n=81) and genitourinary (1%, n=52). The majority of patients were between the ages of 45-65 (55%), followed by 65-74 (18%), older than 75 (5%), and 25-44 (2%). Average number (#) of cycles of cooling completed was 6.53 (range of average # of cycles 4.50-12). Scalp cooling with this device was commonly used in 39 out of 50 states. Conclusions: This is the largest report of scalp cooling usage in the real world setting in the USA, including scalp cooling usage in older adults. Uptake of scalp cooling across various cancers has not been uniform and this deserves further study.

Does Scalp Cooling Have the Same Efficacy in Black Patients Receiving Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer?

LESSONS LEARNED

Despite U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to reduce alopecia, data on efficacy of scalp cooling in Black patients with cancer are limited by lack of minority representation in prior clinical trials. Scalp cooling devices may have less efficacy in Black patients; additional studies are required to explore the possible causes for this, including hair texture and cap design.

BACKGROUND

The Paxman scalp cooling (SC) device is U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Studies report 50%-80% success rates and high patient satisfaction, yet there have been no studies of SC in Black patients. We conducted a phase II feasibility study of Paxman SC with a planned enrollment of 30 Black patients receiving chemotherapy for stage I-III breast cancer.

METHODS

Black patients who planned to receive at least four cycles of chemotherapy with non-anthracycline (NAC) or anthracycline (AC) regimens were eligible. Alopecia was assessed by trained oncology providers using the modified Dean scale (MDS) prior to each chemotherapy session. Distress related to alopecia was measured by the Chemotherapy Alopecia Distress Scale (CADS).

RESULTS

Fifteen patients enrolled in the intervention before the study was closed early because of lack of efficacy. Median MDS and CADS increased after SC, suggesting increased hair loss (p < .001) and alopecia distress (p = .04). Only one participant was successful in preventing significant hair loss; the majority stopped SC before chemotherapy completion because of grade 3 alopecia (>50% hair loss).

CONCLUSION

SC may not be efficacious in preventing alopecia in Black women. Differences in hair thickness, hair volume, and limitations of cooling cap design are possible contributing factors.

Scalp cooling to prevent chemotherapy induced alopecia (CIA) in black patients: Differences in efficacy?

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Background: The Paxman scalp cooling device has been used for over 20 years to prevent CIA, obtaining FDA clearance in the U.S. in 2017. Prior studies reported 50-80% success and high patient satisfaction yet included few or no black patients. In the U.S. this may reflect disparities in access due to cost, awareness, or availability. We opened a prospective observational study combining patient-reported outcomes with clinical assessments of alopecia and planned to deliver scalp cooling to 30 black patients receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. Methods: Patients who self-identified racially as black, had a new diagnosis of stage I-III breast cancer, and planned to receive chemotherapy with taxane-containing regimens were eligible. Anthracycline (AC) and non-anthracycline (NAC) chemotherapy agents were included; costs for the intervention were covered by Paxman and internal philanthropic funding. Patients who declined scalp cooling were approached for enrollment as controls. Primary endpoints were grade of alopecia as measured by providers and patient self-report using Modified Dean Scale and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) respectively. Hair preservation was defined as <50% hair loss (<grade 2) by Dean and score < 50 on VAS. Secondary endpoints were alopecia by NCI grading scale and psychosocial from CADS and EORTC QLQ BR45 questionnaires. Results: 15 out of 30 planned participants enrolled by February 2020 with interim analysis and hold in accrual due to lack of efficacy. Four patients remain on treatment. Of 11 scalp cooling patients who completed chemotherapy, 0 prevented significant alopecia. Nine discontinued use of scalp cooling before completion (1 due to scheduling, 8 due to >grade 3 alopecia). The 2 patients who used scalp cooling for the duration had >grade 3 alopecia before the last cycle of treatment. Conclusions: Scalp cooling is an important supportive therapy that can reduce chance of alopecia, a bothersome side effect for patients. Our experience indicates decreased efficacy in black patients with both AC and NAC regimens. This is an important negative result to explore. Discussions with the Paxman team and providers with expertise in alopecia are underway to explore contributing factors such as hair thickness, prior hair treatments, and cap design. [Table: see text]

Concomitant limb cryocompression and scalp cooling to reduce paclitaxel-induced neuropathy and alopecia

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Background: Scalp cooling is an FDA approved method to mitigate chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) caused by paclitaxel. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a dose limiting toxicity of paclitaxel. Several recent randomized studies have suggested limb hypothermia as a mechanism to ameliorate paclitaxel-induced neuropathy. The safety, tolerability and feasibility of concomitant limb hypothermia and scalp cooling to prevent these two common adverse effects of paclitaxel has not been previously studied. Methods: A proof-of-concept study was conducted in breast cancer patients receiving weekly paclitaxel chemotherapy. Each subject underwent concomitant scalp and four-limb cryocompression with each chemotherapy infusion (3 hours) for a maximum of 12 cycles. Limb cryocompression was administered at cyclic pressure (5-15 mmHg) and temperatures starting at 11°C (established as lowest tolerable temperature in a separate healthy volunteer study) and adjusted according to patient tolerability. Skin surface temperature and tolerance scores were recorded. CIPN was assessed via EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-CIPN before (QOLpre), after completion (QOLpost) and 3-months post chemotherapy (QOL3m). Results: Fifteen patients enrolled in the study, of which 14 completed all 12 cycles of concomitant scalp cooling and limb cryocompression during chemotherapy without any side effects barring transient erythema over the limbs. None had intolerance to scalp cooling. Eight patients safely tolerated 12 cycles of cryocompression at 11°C. Of the remaining, 6 completed all 12 cycles at device temperatures ranging from 14-25°C. One patient withdrew at the 6th cycle, finding 25°C intolerable. Median QOLpre was 19 (range 17-19), QOLpost 20 (18-29) (p = 0.04, Wilcoxon signed-rank) and QOL3m was 19 (18-21) (vs QOLpre; p = 1). QOL showed no significant differences from pre-chemotherapy to 3 months post-chemotherapy suggesting preservation of nerve function. Conclusions: Delivery of concomitant scalp cooling and limb cryocompression is feasible, safe and generally well-tolerated. Future limb hypothermia trials should not preclude patients from undergoing scalp-cooling concomitantly to reduce CIA. Clinical trial information: NCT03248193 .

Scalp Cooling Alopecia Prevention trial (SCALP) for patients with early stage breast cancer

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Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy decreases the risk of recurrence. However, it has distressing side effects, including alopecia. There are no randomized trials assessing modern scalp cooling to prevent alopecia, and success rates in non-randomized trials have varied. Methods: We conducted a multi-center randomized trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Orbis Paxman Hair Loss Prevention System (OPHLPS) in reducing chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Women with stage I-II breast cancer planned to receive anthracycline- or taxane- based chemotherapy for at least four cycles were eligible and randomized in a 2:1 ratio to scalp-cooling or control. Scalp-cooling was done with the OPHLPS 30 minutes prior to, during and 90 minutes after each chemotherapy. The primary efficacy endpoints were hair preservation and device safety. We planned to enroll 235 subjects to provide 85% power to detect a 20% difference in hair preservation. Secondary endpoints included wig/scarf use and quality of life assessed by the EORTC QLQ-30, HADS and BIS. Subjects will be followed for 5 years for recurrence, overall survival, and site of recurrence. One interim analysis was planned to allow the study to stop early for efficacy after 142 subjects were enrolled and evaluable for the primary endpoint. To maintain the overall type 1 error rate, an O’Brien-Fleming spending function was used (interim boundary p = 0.0061). Results: This is the first randomized trial with modern scalp cooling in the world. For the interim analysis, 142 subjects were evaluable. Among them, 48 (50.5%) out of 95 in the cooling group and 0 (0%) out of 47 in the control group had hair preservation. The one-tailed p-value from the Fisher’s exact test is < 0.0001, which crosses the superiority boundary (p = 0.0061). Thus on 9/26/2016 the DSMB stopped the study early. The interim analysis was presented at SABCS 2016. There are 195 subjects enrolled on this clinical trial, and the final subject will be evaluable for the primary outcome February 2017. The final analysis will be presented. Conclusions: Our trial showed that scalp cooling using OPHLPS is highly effective in hair retention. Paxman Coolers has applied for FDA clearance for the OPHLPS based on the results of the interim analysis. Clinical trial information: NCT01986140.

Effect of a Scalp Cooling Device on Alopecia in Women Undergoing Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: The SCALP Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Chemotherapy may induce alopecia. Although scalp cooling devices have been used to prevent this alopecia, efficacy has not been assessed in a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether a scalp cooling device is effective at reducing chemotherapy-induced alopecia and to assess adverse treatment effects.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Multicenter randomized clinical trial of women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Patients were enrolled from December 9, 2013, to September 30, 2016. One interim analysis was planned to allow the study to stop early for efficacy. Data reported are from the interim analysis. This study was conducted at 7 sites in the United States, and 182 women with breast cancer requiring chemotherapy were enrolled and randomized.

INTERVENTIONS

Participants were randomized to scalp cooling (n = 119) or control (n = 63). Scalp cooling was done using a scalp cooling device.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary efficacy end points were successful hair preservation assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 scale (grade 0 [no hair loss] or grade 1 [<50% hair loss not requiring a wig] were considered to have hair preservation) at the end of 4 cycles of chemotherapy by a clinician unaware of treatment assignment, and device safety. Secondary end points included wig use and scores on the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and a summary scale of the Body Image Scale.

RESULTS

At the time of the interim analysis, 142 participants were evaluable. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 52.6 (10.1) years; 36% (n = 51) received anthracycline-based chemotherapy and 64% (n = 91) received taxane-based chemotherapy. Successful hair preservation was found in 48 of 95 women with cooling (50.5%; 95% CI, 40.7%-60.4%) compared with 0 of 47 women in the control group (0%; 95% CI, 0%-7.6%) (success rate difference, 50.5%; 95% CI, 40.5%-60.6%). Because the 1-tailed P value from the Fisher exact test was <.001, which crossed the superiority boundary (P = .0061), the data and safety monitoring board recommended study termination on September 26, 2016. There were no statistically significant differences in changes in any of the scales of quality of life from baseline to chemotherapy cycle 4 among the scalp cooling and control groups. Only adverse events related to device use were collected; 54 adverse events were reported in the cooling group, all grades 1 and 2. There were no serious adverse device events.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among women with stage I to II breast cancer receiving chemotherapy with a taxane, anthracycline, or both, those who underwent scalp cooling were significantly more likely to have less than 50% hair loss after the fourth chemotherapy cycle compared with those who received no scalp cooling. Further research is needed to assess longer-term efficacy and adverse effects.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01986140.

Abstract OT3-02-08: Scalp cooling alopecia prevention trial (SCALP) for patients with early stage breast cancer

Background

Adjuvant chemotherapy treats micro-metastatic disease and decreases the risk of breast cancer recurrence. However, it may be associated with distressing side effects, including alopecia. Women with breast cancer rate chemotherapy-induced alopecia as one of the most severe, troublesome, and distressing side effects of chemotherapy. In many countries, scalp cooling has been introduced to prevent or reduce chemotherapy-induced alopecia. The theory is that scalp cooling causes cutaneous vasoconstriction, which reduces blood flow to the hair follicles during peak plasma concentrations of the chemotherapeutic agents and therefore reduces cellular uptake of these agents. It also results in reduced biochemical activity, which makes hair follicles less susceptible to the damage of the chemotherapy agents. Historically success rates are have been variable, but based on non-randomized studies, scalp cooling appears to be effective in preventing chemotherapy-induced alopecia especially in more recent studies.

Methods

We are conducting a prospective multi-center randomized controlled non-blinded trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Orbis Paxman Hair Loss Prevention System in reducing the incidence of chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Women with stage I-II breast cancer who will receive neoadjuvant or adjuvant anthracycline- or taxane-based chemotherapy, for at least four cycles are eligible. Participants are randomized in a 2:1 ratio to scalp-cooling or no cooling. Scalp-cooling is done using the Orbis Paxman Hair Loss Prevention System prior to, during and after each chemotherapy administration. The primary efficacy endpoints are hair preservation, defined as CTCAE v4 alopecia &lt;2, and device safety. Two hundred and thirty five (235) patients are planned to be enrolled which will provide 85% power to detect a 20% difference in hair preservation, 15% in control group and 35% in scalp-cooling group . Secondary endpoints include: wig/scarf use and quality of life assessed by the EORTC QLQ-30, HADS and BIS. Study participants will be followed for 5 years post-study for time to first recurrence, overall survival, site of first recurrence, and incidence of isolated scalp metastasis.

Citation Format: Nangia JR, Wang T, Rude M, Osborne C, Papish S, Abraham J, Holmes F, Savin M, Paxman R, Hilsenbeck SG, Osborne CK, Rimawi M. Scalp cooling alopecia prevention trial (SCALP) for patients with early stage breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr OT3-02-08.

Vector transmission matrix for the polarization behavior of light propagation in highly scattering media

Recently the optical transmission matrix (TM) has been shown to be useful in controlling the propagation of light in highly scattering media. In this paper, we present the vector transmission matrix (VTM) which, unlike the TM, captures both the intensity and polarization transmission property of the scattering medium. We present an experimental technique for measuring the absolute values of the VTM elements which is in contrast to existing techniques whereby the TM elements are measured to within a scaling factor. The usefulness of the VTM is illustrated by showing that it can be used to both predict and control the magnitude of the complex polarization ratio of the light focused through the scattering medium. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show the possibility of controlling the polarization of the light transmitted through highly scattering media.

Focusing through dynamic scattering media

We demonstrate steady-state focusing of coherent light through dynamic scattering media. The phase of an incident beam is controlled both spatially and temporally using a reflective, 1020-segment MEMS spatial light modulator, using a coordinate descent optimization technique. We achieve focal intensity enhancement of between 5 and 400 for dynamic media with speckle decorrelation time constants ranging from 0.4 seconds to 20 seconds. We show that this optimization approach combined with a fast spatial light modulator enables focusing through dynamic media. The capacity to enhance focal intensity despite transmission through dynamic scattering media could enable advancement in biological microscopy and imaging through turbid environments.