Docetaxel and Permanent Alopecia

In the document from May 1, 2013, the authors discuss their observations of permanent alopecia in seven patients following high-dose docetaxel chemotherapy for breast cancer. They emphasize that the real prevalence of this side effect is unknown and call for efforts to understand the mechanism of follicle destruction and to identify prevention strategies. They also critique the findings of Tallon et al., arguing that the "multiple linear aggregates of basaloid epithelium" described in the earlier study are not specific to chemotherapy-induced alopecia, as they resemble telogen germinal units (TGUs) found in various types of hair loss. The authors suggest that the histopathologic criteria for permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia are still to be defined, noting differences in the morphology of TGUs in healthy hair follicles compared to those observed in their patient with alopecia.