Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

Abstract

Few dermatologic conditions carry as much emotional distress as chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA). The prerequisite for successful development of strategies for CIA prevention is the understanding of the pathobiology of CIA. The incidence and severity of CIA are variable and related to the particular chemotherapeutic protocol. CIA is traditionally categorized as acute diffuse hair loss caused by dystrophic anagen effluvium; however, CIA presents with different clinical patterns of hair loss. When an arrest of mitotic activity occurs, obviously numerous and interacting factors influence the shedding pattern. The major approach to minimize CIA is by scalp cooling. Unfortunately, most published data on scalp cooling are of poor quality. Several experimental approaches to the development of pharmacologic agents are under evaluation and include drug-specific antibodies, hair growth cycle modifiers, cytokines and growth factors, antioxidants, inhibitors of apoptosis, and cell-cycle and proliferation modifiers. Ultimately, the protection should be selective to the hair follicle; for example, topical application, such that the anticancer efficacy of chemotherapy is not hampered. Among the few agents that have been evaluated so far in humans, AS101 and minoxidil were able to reduce the severity or shorten the duration of CIA, but could not prevent CIA.

Perception, Attitudes, Preparedness and Experience of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia among Breast Cancer Patients: a Qualitative Study

“…In previous studies, alopecia was also identified as one of the most distressing events during cancer treatment, and there is data indicating that some patients refused chemotherapy because of alopecia (Tierney and Taylor, 1991;Trueb, 2009). However, none of the participants in our study hesitated to receive chemotherapy because of alopecia and indicated that the fear of the recurrence was greater than the pain expected from alopecia.…”

“…new antinauseous drugs) and fatigue (e.g. erythropoietin) (Carelle et al, 2002;Jahn et al, 2009), alopecia is still a major side effect with no successful preventive intervention (Lemieux et al, 2008;Trueb, 2009).…”

Response and Coping on Physically to Side Effect Cemotherapy in Women Suffered Cervical Cancer

“…Selain itu, setelah menjalani kemoterapi tekstur rambut juga berubah menjadi lebih kasar, mudah patah dan pertumbuhan rambut menjadi lebih lambat. Menurut Trueb (2009), karakteristik utama dari folikel rambut anagen yang mengalami proliferasi dengan sel-sel matriks yaitu dengan menunjukkan aktivitas proliferasi terbesar dalam membangun batang rambut. Selain itu juga penghentian mendadak aktivitas mitosis menyebabkan melemahnya sebagian keratin di bagian proksimal dari batang rambut, penyempitan, dan selanjutnya kerusakan kanal rambut.…”

The Role of Neural Stem Cells in Neurorestoration

“…During chemotherapy patients loose hair one to three weeks after initiation of therapy. However, the SC of hair follicles survive, and usually hair grow back from three to six months after termination of therapy 27 . The molecular machinery behind increased DNA-repair mechanisms, free-radical scavengers systems and membrane pumps to expel toxic substances have been described in a range of cancers 28 .…”