Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Ovarian Cancer: Incidence, Mechanisms, and Impact Across Treatment Regimens

    January 2025 in “ Cancers ”
    Simonetta I. Gaumond, Gabriela E Beraja, Isabella Kamholtz, Lina M. Ferrari, Rami H. Mahmoud, Joaquín J. Jiménez
    Studysummary This article discusses the importance of optimizing treatment protocols for chemotherapy-induced alopecia and reports no new clinical results; the authors emphasize improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
    Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is a significant side effect for ovarian cancer patients, with taxanes and platinum-based combinations posing the highest risk. The review of 18 studies highlights that taxanes, especially in combination with platinum compounds like carboplatin, lead to severe alopecia, with incidences reaching up to 100% in some regimens. Platinum-based compounds also contribute to hair loss, though to a lesser extent. The severity of CIA is influenced by drug combinations, dosing schedules, and prior treatment exposure. Weekly dosing and targeted therapies like pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) show promise in reducing CIA, with PLD significantly lowering alopecia rates compared to traditional regimens. Addressing CIA is crucial for improving patient quality of life and treatment adherence, and future research should focus on strategies to mitigate this side effect while maintaining treatment efficacy.
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