This Wednesday (16), the public was able to learn about the research that won the Renata Thormann Procianoy award, designed by the Cura Project Institute. The research, entitled “Randomized study using electric hand warmer versus observation to reduce discomfort during scalp cooling for prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia”, is led by Dr. Luciana Landeiro and studies ways to provide general and thermal comfort for breast cancer patients who use scalp cooling during their chemotherapy treatment as a way to prevent Alopecia Areata (hair loss). The award ceremony took place on the 16th and was part of the program of the Best of ASCO 2021 Annual Meeting — Brazil Edition.

Winner's profile

A Northeastern woman, Dr. Luciana Landeiro has breast cancer and gynecological tumors as her main line of research. The doctor began her career as a scholarship holder in a hepatology research group at the Federal University of Bahia. Years later, in his oncology residency, he focused his efforts on improving the quality of life of cancer patients.

In addition, she completed postgraduate studies in clinical research from Harvard Medical School. Luciana then became a PhD in Clinical Oncology from the University of São Paulo and chose the Survivorship line of research, in which she evaluated return to work rates in patients with breast cancer.

Dr. Luciana Landeiro is a member of the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology (SBOC); of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and coordinator of the Research Center of the Oncology Center of Bahia (NOB)/Oncoclinics Group.

About the research

The study was developed within the area of quality of care for patients with breast cancer and was conceived jointly by Dr. Luciana Landeiro and Dr. Clarissa Mathias. The study population were patients diagnosed with early, locally advanced breast cancer.

Research volunteers underwent scalp cooling during chemotherapy treatment as a way to prevent the adverse effect of Alopecia, which is hair loss. In the study, patients were randomized, in a ratio of 1 to 1, for intervention with the use of electric hand warmers versus observation during scalp cooling. The main objective was to assess the participants' overall comfort by evaluating comfort and thermal sensation.

The results of this pilot study suggest that the use of hand warmers has a favorable and consistent impact on overall and thermal comfort among breast cancer patients who use scalp cooling during their chemotherapy treatment. These results are an initial indication that a simple device can improve patients' quality of life and perhaps reduce interruptions in treatment with the thermal cap.

History of the Renata Thormann Procianoy Prize

The award was launched by the Cura Project Institute in 2019 during the Best of ASCO and pays homage to the story of Renata Thormann Procianoy who dedicated two years of her life helping her mother, Nora Thormann, to find a correct diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. Nora recovered when she was recruited for research coordinated by doctor Dr. Roberto Miranda at the MD Anderson hospital at the University of Texas, USA.

The Cura Project Institute is especially grateful to Cristália for encouraging research through support for the 3rd edition of the Renata Thormann Procianoy award.

Text by Letícia Barbosa

With information from: Best of ASCO 2021 Annual Meeting - Brazil Edition