Nail Changes Associated With Chemotherapy and Prevention of Nail Pigmentation by Ice Water Immersion

Anthracyclines combined with cyclophosphamide or taxane-containing regimens may cause nail pigmentation which reduces quality of life in breast cancer patients. We conducted this study to investigate nail pigmentation and other skin changes associated with these drugs and aim to evaluate the effect of ice water immersion of hands on nail pigmentation. The first phase is an observational study. Breast cancer patients who received anthracyclines combined with cyclophosphamide or taxane-containing regimens for adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy are enrolled. The second phase is a prospective phase II study. Early breast cancer patients who plan to receive these drugs for adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy are treated with ice water immersion of the left hands while their right hands serve as control. The primary end point is the degree of nail pigmentation. The other end points are the incidence of nail pigmentation in both hands, the degree and the incidence of onycholysis, the time from the first chemotherapy to the occurrence of nail pigmentation/onycholysis, the recovery of nail pigmentation/onycholysis, and patient comfort.