TLDR Using CDK inhibitors on rats showed a reduction in chemotherapy-caused hair loss, but later experiments could not repeat these results.
The study by Stephen T. Davis et al. from 2001 explored the use of CDK2 inhibitors to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) in a neonatal rat model. The researchers found that topical application of these inhibitors reduced hair loss in 33 to 50% of the rats. The study included nine experiments for the etoposide model and three for the cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin model, demonstrating that the compound arrested the cell cycle and protected cells from chemotherapy toxicity. Despite initial positive results suggesting that clinical trials might be warranted, the document notes that the article was retracted on December 20, 2002, due to the inability to reproduce the biological activity of the compound in subsequent experiments.
1113 citations,
August 1999 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Hair follicle biology advancements may lead to better hair growth disorder treatments.
36 citations,
October 1996 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Mice are useful for researching human hair loss and testing treatments, despite some differences between species.
127 citations,
July 1996 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Minoxidil shortens baldness from chemotherapy by 50.2 days without significant side effects.
2 citations,
January 2012 in “InTech eBooks” Chemotherapy often causes hair loss, which usually grows back within 3 to 6 months, but there's no effective treatment to prevent it.
61 citations,
January 2013 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology” Hair usually grows back 1-3 months after treatment for anagen effluvium, and children with Loose Anagen Hair Syndrome often improve by adolescence.
1 citations,
May 2006 in “Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents” No FDA-approved treatments for chemotherapy-induced hair loss existed in 2006; more research was needed.
38 citations,
September 2017 in “Oncologist” Scalp cooling can help prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss with a 50-90% success rate and is safe for patients.
34 citations,
January 2018 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Scalp cooling is the most effective FDA-approved method to prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss, but more research is needed for other treatments.
