Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia was recognized as a distressing side effect of cancer treatment, with limited progress in its prevention due to the absence of a reproducible animal model. In studies conducted over 2 years, researchers found that certain chemotherapeutic agents caused alopecia in rats, with vidarabine and cyclophosphamide leading to total body hair loss, while doxorubicin caused localized alopecia. The biologic response modifier Imuvert provided complete protection against alopecia induced by vidarabine and doxorubicin, but not cyclophosphamide, through a mechanism involving a monocyte-mediated cytokine, possibly interleukin-1. These findings represented significant advancements in understanding and potentially preventing chemotherapy-induced hair loss.