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

The study demonstrated that the immunomodulator AS101 reduced the severity of chemotherapy-induced alopecia in both human and animal models. In a phase-II clinical trial involving 58 non-small-cell-lung-cancer patients, those treated with AS101 combined with chemotherapy experienced significantly less alopecia compared to those receiving chemotherapy alone. In rats, AS101 provided protection against alopecia when combined with Ara-C, with the effect mediated by macrophage-derived factors, particularly IL-1. The protective role of AS101 was also linked to PGE2 secretion, as indomethacin injections reduced its effectiveness. These findings led to further phase-II clinical trials to explore AS101's protective potential in cancer patients with various malignancies.