Synapse - Oral minoxidil for late alopecia in cancer survivors

Oral minoxidil for late alopecia in cancer survivors Journal Article

Authors:	Kuo, A. M. S.; Reingold, R. E.; Ketosugbo, K. F.; Pan, A.; Kraehenbuehl, L.; Dusza, S.; Gajria, D.; Lake, D. E.; Bromberg, J. F.; Traina, T. A.; Fornier, M. N.; Gucalp, A.; D’Alessandro, B. M.; Rotemberg, V.; Dauscher, M.; Shapiro, J.; Goldfarb, S. B.; Markova, A.; Lacouture, M. E.
Article Title:	Oral minoxidil for late alopecia in cancer survivors
Abstract:	Purpose: Late alopecia, defined as incomplete hair regrowth > 6 months following cytotoxic chemotherapy or > 6 months from initiation of endocrine therapy, negatively impacts quality of life and may affect dose intensity of adjuvant therapy. This study investigates the effect of oral minoxidil in women with chemotherapy and/or endocrine therapy-induced late alopecia. Methods: The rate of clinical response was assessed by standardized photography and quantitated with trichoscopy. Results: Two hundred and sixteen patients (mean age 57.8 ± 13.7) were included. The most common cancer diagnosis was breast, in 170 patients (79.1%). Alopecia developed after chemotherapy in 31 (14.4%) patients, endocrine monotherapy in 65 (30.1%) patients, and chemotherapy followed by endocrine therapy in 120 (55.6%) patients. In 119 patients, standardized photography assessments were used to determine clinical change in alopecia after a median of 105 (IQR = 70) days on oral minoxidil and revealed improvement in 88 (74%) patients. Forty-two patients received quantitative trichoscopic assessments at baseline and at follow-up after a median of 91 (IQR = 126) days on oral minoxidil. Patients had clinically and statistically significant increases in frontal hair shaft density (from 124.2 hairs/cm2 at initial to 153.2 hairs/cm2 at follow-up assessment, p = 0.008) and occipital shaft density (from 100.3 hairs/cm2 at initial to 123.5 hairs/cm2 at follow-up assessment. p = 0.004). No patients discontinued oral minoxidil due to adverse events. Conclusions: Overall, oral minoxidil was well tolerated by patients and may benefit both frontal and occipital late alopecia in cancer survivors treated with cytotoxic and/or endocrine therapy by increasing hair shaft and follicle density. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024.
Keywords:	adult; cancer chemotherapy; clinical article; treatment outcome; aged; middle aged; busulfan; cisplatin; doxorubicin; fluorouracil; monotherapy; antineoplastic agents; gemcitabine; paclitaxel; chemotherapy; cytarabine; methotrexate; follow up; antineoplastic agent; cancer diagnosis; quality control; carboplatin; quality of life; breast cancer; etoposide; aromatase inhibitor; cyclophosphamide; steroid; vincristine; drug effect; breast neoplasms; retrospective study; cancer therapy; cancer survivor; docetaxel; irinotecan; leuprorelin; growth, development and aging; artificial intelligence; breast tumor; finasteride; hair; epirubicin; hormonal therapy; drug therapy; trastuzumab; administration, oral; alopecia; everolimus; cyclin dependent kinase 4; fulvestrant; platelet count; pertuzumab; oral drug administration; hair loss; cyclin dependent kinase 6; cancer survivors; adverse event; adverse events; endocrine; minoxidil; humans; human; female; article; palbociclib; abemaciclib; trichoscopy
Journal Title:	Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Volume:	208
Issue:	3
ISSN:	0167-6806
Publisher:	Springer
Date Published:	2024-12-01
Start Page:	491
End Page:	499
Language:	English
DOI:	10.1007/s10549-024-07440-5
PUBMED:	39097564
PROVIDER:	scopus
DOI/URL:	https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85200347310&doi=10.1007%2fs10549-024-07440-5&partnerID=40&md5=45ea618b3f3c6a764be6980d39c04b8b
Notes:	Article -- MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) acknowledged in PubMed and PDF -- Source: Scopus