Prevention and Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

June 2020 in “ Dermatology practical & conceptual ”

Alfredo Rossi, Gemma Caro, Maria Caterina Fortuna, Flavia Pigliacelli, Andrea D’Arino, Marta Carlesimo

chemotherapy-induced alopecia scalp cooling minoxidil bimatoprost topical epinephrine topical norepinephrine Rogaine

From the encyclopedia

Minoxidil →

An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

Bimatoprost →

a synthetic prostamide used to treat eyelashes also shows promise for stimulating hair growth on scalp

Studysummary This study reviewed treatments for chemotherapy-induced hair loss, finding that scalp cooling is FDA-approved for prevention, while minoxidil and bimatoprost may aid post-chemotherapy regrowth. The authors emphasized tailored therapies and the potential utility of tools like trichoscopy and trichogram. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The document from June 2020 discussed chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA), a side effect affecting about 65% of chemotherapy patients. It found scalp cooling to be the only FDA-approved method for preventing CIA, but its use was limited and could cause side effects. Drugs like minoxidil and bimatoprost were not recommended during chemotherapy due to lack of efficacy and potential to worsen hair loss, but could be used post-chemotherapy to promote hair regrowth. Topical epinephrine and norepinephrine were found to reduce drug inflow to hair follicles, preserving them, but were not recommended for patients with certain conditions. The study concluded that treatment should be personalized, with no fixed protocol, and further research was needed to develop more effective, personalized treatments for CIA.

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Research cited in this study

18 / 18 results

research CDK4/6 Inhibition Mitigates Stem Cell Damage in a Novel Model for Taxane-Induced Alopecia

58 citations , September 2019 in “EMBO Molecular Medicine”

This study found that the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib may protect human hair follicles from the damaging effects of taxane chemotherapy by inducing G1 arrest in stem/progenitor cells.

research Monitoring Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia With Trichoscopy

23 citations , July 2018 in “Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology”

This study describes a distinct pattern of trichoscopic features associated with chemotherapy-induced alopecia and how these features evolve through different phases of chemotherapy treatment.

research Pathogenesis and Treatment Options for Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: A Systematic Review

34 citations , January 2018 in “International Journal of Dermatology”

This review discusses chemotherapy-induced alopecia, highlighting its pathogenesis, clinical patterns, and current therapeutic approaches, with no new clinical results reported.

research Multi-Therapies in Androgenetic Alopecia: Review and Clinical Experiences

55 citations , July 2016 in “Dermatologic Therapy”

This article reviews treatment options for androgenetic alopecia and suggests that therapy should be personalized and targeted at various pathophysiological aspects, but reports no new clinical findings.

Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Bimatoprost Solution 0.03% Application to the Eyelid Margin for the Treatment of Idiopathic and Chemotherapy-Induced Eyelash Hypotrichosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

research Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Bimatoprost Solution 0.03% Application to the Eyelid Margin for the Treatment of Idiopathic and Chemotherapy-Induced Eyelash Hypotrichosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

38 citations , October 2014 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement”

The study found that daily use of bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03% for one year was effective in improving eyelash growth and patient satisfaction in both idiopathic and chemotherapy-induced hypotrichosis, with no serious drug-related adverse events reported.

research Efficacy of Interventions for Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

110 citations , August 2014 in “International journal of cancer”

This study found that scalp cooling significantly reduced the risk of chemotherapy-induced alopecia in breast cancer patients, while topical minoxidil and other interventions did not show significant efficacy.

research Efficacy and Tolerability of Two Scalp Cooling Systems for the Prevention of Alopecia Associated with Docetaxel Treatment

52 citations , May 2013 in “Supportive Care in Cancer”

Scalp cooling significantly reduces hair loss in chemotherapy patients.

research Human Hair Follicle Stem/Progenitor Cells Express Hypoxia Markers

33 citations , March 2013 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”

Human hair follicle stem cells show signs of low oxygen levels, which may be important for hair growth and preventing baldness.

research Pathobiology of Chemotherapy-Induced Hair Loss

218 citations , January 2013 in “The Lancet Oncology”

This review discusses the pathobiology of chemotherapy-induced alopecia and highlights challenges in managing it, reporting no new clinical results and emphasizing the need for well-designed preclinical models to develop effective treatments.

research Permanent Alopecia After Systemic Chemotherapy: A Clinicopathological Study of 10 Cases

57 citations , March 2011 in “The American Journal of Dermatopathology”

This study found that permanent alopecia can occur after certain chemotherapy treatments and presents as nonscarring hair loss similar to androgenetic alopecia, with specific histological features that could be misdiagnosed without proper clinicopathological correlation.

research Chemotherapy-Induced Hair Loss

48 citations , September 2010 in “PubMed”

This review discusses chemotherapy-induced hair loss, highlighting that topical minoxidil can lessen its severity or duration but not prevent it, and reports no new clinical results.

research Protection Against Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

97 citations , September 2006 in “Pharmaceutical Research”

This review discusses advances in protecting against chemotherapy-induced alopecia and reports no new clinical results; calcitriol and cyclosporine A emerged as promising agents in animal models with broader efficacy across multiple chemotherapy drugs.

Topical Application of Cyclosporin A Induces Rapid Remodeling of Damaged Anagen Hair Follicles in Cyclophosphamide-Administered Mice

research Topical Application of Cyclosporin A Induces Rapid Remodeling of Damaged Anagen Hair Follicles in Cyclophosphamide-Administered Mice

24 citations , September 2001 in “Journal of Dermatological Science”

This study found that cyclophosphamide-induced hair follicle damage in C3H mice could be remodelled into intact anagen hair follicles with topical cyclosporin A, especially in anagen IV stage follicles.

research Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Rats by CDK Inhibitors

153 citations , January 2001 in “Science”

In a neonatal rat model, this study found that topical CDK2 inhibitors reduced chemotherapy-induced hair loss in 33 to 50% of the animals, suggesting a potential strategy for preventing alopecia in cancer patients.

research A Randomized Trial of Minoxidil in Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

127 citations , July 1996 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

This study found that in women undergoing chemotherapy after breast surgery, topical minoxidil significantly shortened the duration of hair loss compared to a placebo without significant side effects.

research Vitamin D3 and Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

11 citations , June 1996 in “Nutrition”

Vitamin D3 may prevent hair loss from chemotherapy, but side effects and cancer cell protection are concerns.

research Minoxidil as a Prophylaxis of Doxorubicin-Induced Alopecia

49 citations , October 1994 in “Annals of Oncology”

Minoxidil not effective in preventing chemotherapy-induced hair loss.

research High-Dose Alpha-Tocopherol as a Preventive of Doxorubicin-Induced Alopecia

18 citations , October 1986 in “PubMed”

This study found that alpha-tocopherol acetate did not demonstrate any protective effect against hair loss induced by doxorubicin in patients with solid tumors.