Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia by Docetaxel: Prevalence, Treatment, and Prevention

September 2024 in “ Current Oncology ”

Aleymi M. Perez, Nicole I. Haberland, Mariya Miteva, Tongyu C. Wikramanayake

docetaxel chemotherapy-induced alopecia CIA persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia pCIA taxanes paclitaxel scalp cooling minoxidil photobiomodulation platelet-rich plasma ABCB1 gene SNPs Rogaine PRP

TLDR Docetaxel often causes hair loss, with limited effective treatments and no cure for permanent hair loss.

Docetaxel, a chemotherapy drug, frequently causes chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA), with a higher risk of persistent or permanent CIA (pCIA) compared to other taxanes like paclitaxel. The prevalence of CIA is dose-dependent, with 35-52% of patients experiencing partial alopecia at doses >400 mg/m2, and 10.06% experiencing complete alopecia. Scalp cooling is the standard preventive measure, while treatments such as minoxidil, photobiomodulation, and platelet-rich plasma are used for hair regrowth, though outcomes are often unsatisfactory. Genetic factors, such as SNPs linked to the ABCB1 gene, and age increase susceptibility to pCIA. Despite ongoing research, there is no cure for pCIA, and further studies are needed to improve prevention and treatment strategies.

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