The Protective Role of the Immunomodulator AS101 Against Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: Studies on Human and Animal Models

The study investigated the protective role of the immunomodulator AS101 against chemotherapy-induced alopecia in both human and animal models. In phase-II clinical trials involving 58 non-small-cell-lung-cancer patients, those treated with AS101 in combination with chemotherapy experienced a significant reduction in alopecia compared to those receiving chemotherapy alone. The study also utilized a rat model to explore the protective mechanisms, revealing that AS101's effects are mediated by macrophage-derived factors, particularly IL-1, as the protective effect was diminished when IL-1RA was administered. Additionally, the protection was linked to PGE2 secretion, as indomethacin injections reduced AS101's efficacy. These findings suggested that AS101 could effectively mitigate chemotherapy-induced hair loss, prompting further clinical trials.