Finding ways to prevent hair loss during ovarian cancer treatment
Official title: Countering microtubule stabilization within hair follicles in ovarian cancer chemotherapy
Funded at University of Miami School of Medicine · NIH-11066440 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether low-intensity ultrasound can help protect hair follicles from damage caused by the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel, which many ovarian cancer patients take, in hopes of preventing hair loss during treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $351,131 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA286527-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11066440 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, particularly those receiving paclitaxel.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing chemotherapy or those with other types of cancer unrelated to ovarian cancer may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how low-intensity ultrasound can protect hair follicles from damage caused by the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel, which is commonly used to treat ovarian cancer. The study aims to understand the cellular mechanisms involved in this protection and to determine if this approach can effectively prevent hair loss, a significant side effect experienced by many patients. By using human scalp hair follicle organ cultures and mouse models, the researchers will explore how ultrasound can disrupt the formation of harmful microtubule structures without affecting the drug's cancer-fighting properties. The ultimate goal is to develop a clinical trial protocol based on these findings to help improve the quality of life for patients undergoing treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce hair loss in patients undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer, improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using ultrasound for cellular protection, but this specific approach to prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Miami School of Medicine
Coral Gables, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Xiangxi Mike — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Xu, Xiangxi Mike
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Photodynamic lipids to boost chemotherapy for metastatic ovarian cancer
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Alternative NF-kB activation after chemotherapy in ovarian cancer
This grant studies how ovarian cancer might come back after chemotherapy by looking at specific signaling pathways in cancer cells and the tumor environment.
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Understanding how chemotherapy-related changes fuel ovarian cancer relapse
Aims to uncover how changes after chemotherapy help ovarian cancer come back and how to block those signals to help patients stay cancer-free.
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Protecting hair from ovarian cancer chemotherapy
Trying low-intensity ultrasound to protect the hair of people getting paclitaxel chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.
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How chemotherapy can activate MASP and help ovarian cancer spread
This project looks at whether common chemotherapy drugs trigger a protein called MASP that helps high-grade serous ovarian cancer cells spread, with the aim of protecting patients from metastatic relapse.
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Why ovarian cancer can come back after chemotherapy — the role of NF-kB signaling
Researchers are looking at whether signals called alternative NF-kB, triggered after chemotherapy, help drug-resistant tumor-initiating cells survive and cause ovarian cancer to return in women treated for ovarian cancer.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.