Efficacy of Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil in the Management of Anticancer Therapy-Induced Alopecia in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

This retrospective cohort study involving 100 female breast cancer patients assessed the efficacy of low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) in managing persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia (pCIA) and endocrine therapy-induced alopecia (EIA). Patients treated with a combination of LDOM (1.25-5.0 mg daily) and 5% topical minoxidil showed significantly better treatment responses and higher hair density increases compared to those using topical minoxidil alone. Specifically, 66% of patients on the combined treatment demonstrated improved outcomes (P = .002), with a notable increase in hair density (P = .003). The combined treatment was well-tolerated with minimal adverse effects, suggesting that LDOM can enhance the effects of topical minoxidil in treating anticancer therapy-induced alopecia, though larger, more controlled studies are needed for confirmation.