Antibody-Drug Conjugate Induced Hair Loss Responds to Minoxidil: A Case Report

July 2025 in “ SKIN The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine ”

Lily Kaufman, Brittany Dulmage, Margaret E. Gatti‐Mays

antibody-drug conjugates fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan sacituzumab govitecan minoxidil alopecia Rogaine

TLDR Oral minoxidil can help regrow hair lost from antibody-drug conjugate treatment.

This case report discusses a 64-year-old female with stage IV ER+/HER2 low-expressing breast cancer who experienced significant hair loss due to treatment with antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), specifically fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan and sacituzumab govitecan. The report highlights the successful use of oral minoxidil to achieve significant hair regrowth while the patient continued ADC therapy. This suggests that oral minoxidil may be a valuable treatment option for managing ADC-induced alopecia, despite the limited research on preventing or treating hair loss in patients undergoing ADC therapy.

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Research cited in this study

2 / 2 results

research Optimizing Treatment Management of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Clinical Practice of Breast Cancer

60 citations, August 2022 in “ESMO Open”

Trastuzumab deruxtecan is effective for HER2-positive breast cancer but requires careful management of side effects.

research Minoxidil And Its Use In Hair Disorders: A Review

117 citations, August 2019 in “Drug Design Development and Therapy”

Minoxidil effectively treats hair loss, but use cautiously and monitor side effects.

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9 / 9 results

research Continued Year-On-Year Improvement in Hair Density With Systemic Minoxidil in Women With Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Case Series

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Low-dose oral minoxidil can help treat male and female pattern hair loss, especially in those who can't use topical treatments or have heart health issues.

research Efficacy of Systemic Minoxidil and Tofacitinib Combination in Treatment-Resistant Alopecia Universalis

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A Pilot Split-Scalp Study of Combined Fractional Radiofrequency Microneedling and 5% Topical Minoxidil in Treating Male Pattern Hair Loss

research A Pilot Split-Scalp Study of Combined Fractional Radiofrequency Microneedling and 5% Topical Minoxidil in Treating Male Pattern Hair Loss

25 citations, June 2018 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”

Combined microneedling and minoxidil improves hair growth more than minoxidil alone.

research Efficacy and Safety of 5% Minoxidil Topical Foam in Male Pattern Hair Loss Treatment and Patient Satisfaction

4 citations, January 2016 in “Acta dermatovenerologica Alpina, Pannonica et Adriatica (Tiskana izd.)”

5% minoxidil foam is a safe, effective treatment for male pattern hair loss, with increased hair count and few side effects.

research 5% Minoxidil: Treatment for Female Pattern Hair Loss

8 citations, March 2015 in “PubMed”

5% minoxidil foam effectively treats female hair loss.

research Androgenetic Alopecia in Adolescents

12 citations, February 2003 in “PubMed”

research Effect of Minoxidil on Hair Growth in Androgenic Alopecia in Women

1 citations, September 2002 in “PubMed”

Minoxidil helps stimulate hair growth and reduce hair loss in women with androgenic alopecia.

research A Randomized Trial of Minoxidil in Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

127 citations, July 1996 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Minoxidil shortens baldness from chemotherapy by 50.2 days without significant side effects.

Antibody-Drug Conjugate Induced Hair Loss Responds to Minoxidil: A Case Report

Research cited in this study

research Optimizing Treatment Management of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in Clinical Practice of Breast Cancer

research Minoxidil And Its Use In Hair Disorders: A Review

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