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

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.