Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: A Novel Observation

May 2018 in “ Australasian Journal of Dermatology ”

Alfredo Rossi, Maria Caterina Fortuna, Gemma Caro, Flavia Pigliacelli, Andrea D’Arino, Marta Carlesimo

chemotherapy-induced alopecia trichoscopic pattern 5-fluorouracil epirubicin cyclophosphamide taxanes follicular melanocytes microtubules amelanotic melanocytes alopecia areata chemotherapy hair loss hair regrowth pattern 5-FU Taxol

Studysummary This article is a letter to the editors about a novel observation regarding chemotherapy-induced alopecia and does not include an abstract with new research results.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The letter describes a novel trichoscopic pattern observed in two patients with chemotherapy-induced alopecia, where their hair regrew with a 'black and white' appearance after treatment for breast cancer with 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and taxanes. The authors hypothesize that this bicolored hair regrowth is due to the reactivation of damaged but not destroyed follicular melanocytes, possibly as a result of the end of a taxane-associated blockade of microtubules or the migration and activation of amelanotic melanocytes. They note that this phenomenon is not exclusive to chemotherapy-induced alopecia, as white tips can also occur in nasal hairs and after alopecia areata. The authors suggest that further studies are needed to understand the duration of these pigmentary changes and the underlying processes.

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