Clinical Pathobiology of Radiotherapy-Induced Alopecia: A Guide Toward More Effective Prevention and Hair Follicle Repair

June 2023 in “ The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology ”

Sung‐Jan Lin, Zhicao Yue, Ralf Paus

radiotherapy-induced alopecia hair follicles ionizing radiation p53 Wnt mTOR prostaglandin E2 FGF7 peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ melatonin hair follicle repair hair follicle regeneration hair follicle miniaturization RIA PPAR-γ

Studysummary This article discusses the clinical spectrum and pathobiology of radiotherapy-induced alopecia and reports no new research findings, highlighting potential pathways for future targeted RIA management. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The document discusses Radiotherapy-induced alopecia (RIA), a significant side effect of cancer radiotherapy, due to the high sensitivity of hair follicles to ionizing radiation. The study explores the different types of RIA and the two distinct pathways through which hair follicles respond to radiotherapy, making RIA management challenging. It also investigates the responses of different hair follicle cell populations and extrafollicular cells to radiation, their roles in hair follicle repair and regeneration, and their potential contribution to hair follicle miniaturization or loss in persistent RIA. The paper suggests that targeting p53-, Wnt-, mTOR-, prostaglandin E2–, FGF7-, peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-γ–, and melatonin-associated pathways could be beneficial in future RIA management.

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