Permanent Alopecia in Breast Cancer Patients: Role of Taxanes and Endocrine Therapies

    March 2021 in “ Cutis
    Christa Slaught, M del C Souto Roman, Sharona Yashar, Vanessa Holland, Carolyn Goh
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    TLDR Some breast cancer treatments, like taxanes, can cause long-term hair loss.
    The document discusses Permanent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia (PCIA), a condition where hair loss persists beyond 6 months after chemotherapy. It is increasingly reported in breast cancer patients, with at least 400 cases documented. The study focuses on the role of taxanes and endocrine therapies in causing PCIA. Taxanes, a type of chemotherapy drug, have cytotoxic effects that may lead to permanent hair loss. Endocrine therapies, often used in addition to chemotherapy, can also lead to alopecia, but their role in PCIA is not well defined. The document presents three case studies of breast cancer patients who experienced PCIA following chemotherapy with taxanes. The study suggests that further characterization of these cases may help identify risk factors for developing permanent alopecia, allowing for better risk stratification and counseling.
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