A team of scientists and clinicians from the National University Cancer Institute Singapore (NCIS) at the university hospital and the N.1 Institute for Health at the National University of Singapore (NUS) collaborated with Paxman Coolers to develop a device that may reduce or prevent the pain and numbness caused by specific types of anti-cancer therapy.
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a severe side effect of chemotherapy drugs known as taxanes, used in treating common cancers like ovarian, breast, stomach, and lung cancer. CIPN affects around 1.4 million cancer patients worldwide every year.
CIPN causes gradual and often irreversible sensitivity or pain in the feet and hands of patients that undergo chemotherapy which leads to delays and discontinuation of the treatment. It contributes to the long-term poor wellbeing of patients and significantly increases health costs. It also leads to loss of productivity at work, as patients are not able to return to work quickly.
There are few to no treatment and prevention strategies for CIPN. Recently, cryotherapy (or cooling) of the limbs during chemotherapy has shown a protective effect by reducing/preventing the severity of CIPN. However, the frozen ice or gloves currently in use are not user-friendly, cause a cooling that is not stable, and can lead to severe frostile. There is a need to develop a device that can cause stable cooling during chemotherapy.
In partnership with Paxman, the Singapore research team from NUHS which consists of researchers and clinicians from the Department of Haematology-Onology at NCIS and NHU and the N.1 Institute for Health at NUS are developing a portable limb cryocompression device mainly for preventing CIN in a cancer patient.
The National Research Foundation (NRF) Central Gap Fund awarded the research team translational grant in May 2021 to be administered by the NHIC. Pilot studies will begin in the 2nd quarter of 2022 to investigate the device in cancer patients undergoing CIPN causing chemotherapy and in healthy volunteers. The prevention efficacy will be monitored using different patient and clinical reported outcomes.
Assistant professor Raghav Sundar, Principal investigator, consultant at the Department of Haematology-Oncology at the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) and Investigator at The N.1 Institute for Health at NUS, said: “The association will have a broad and significant impact. By reducing or preventing CIN, the quality of life and overall health of cancer patients will be significantly improved during and after chemotherapy. CIPN treatment is an increasingly urgent and unmet clinical need, and a preventive solution will hopefully enhance the quality of life. “
Richard Paxman, CEO of Paxman, commented: “Paxman is determined, not only to provide patient access to scalp cooling technology to prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss globally but now also to give patients the chance to reduce or prevent the debilitating side effect of peripheral neuropathy. We bring to this collaboration extensive expertise in design, development, manufacture, regulatory approval, along with experience in commercializing medical cooling devices. The company is perfectly placed to roll out this technology to its existing and growing customer base throughout the world.”
