Impact of Reporter Type on Signal Detection of Cancer Therapy-Induced Alopecia: A Hypothesis-Generating Study Using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System
February 2026
in “
Preprints.org
”
TLDR Reporter characteristics affect detection of hair loss from cancer therapy.
This study analyzed the impact of reporter type on the detection of cancer therapy–induced alopecia (CTIA) using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. The analysis revealed that approximately 90% of alopecia reports were associated with female patients, with 40% linked to breast cancer. The highest reporting odds ratio (ROR) for all reporters was found for docetaxel, while for healthcare professional (HCP) reports, vismodegib had the highest ROR. The study concluded that reporter characteristics significantly influence alopecia signal detection, with patients highlighting psychological harm and HCPs focusing on pharmacological plausibility. These results are hypothesis-generating and suggest the need for further validation through prospective or clinical datasets.