Hair Growth After Gefitinib Treatment

In 2005, a 57-year-old man with androgenic alopecia and non-small-cell lung cancer experienced unexpected hair growth on a bald area of his scalp after starting treatment with gefitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in July 2004. By August 2004, the new hair, which differed in color and texture from his normal hair, was noticeable. As of May 2005, he continued the treatment and was satisfied with the change. This case was significant as it was the first report of gefitinib, typically associated with skin rashes, promoting hair growth, potentially due to its impact on epidermal growth factor receptors involved in skin and hair development.