Minoxidil (Mx) as a prophylaxis of doxorubicin – induced alopecia

Abstract

In this study Mx 2% topical solution was non-toxic but was not effective in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

The emergence of supportive oncodermatology: The study of dermatologic adverse events to cancer therapies

“…38 In 1994 the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) of topical minoxidil failed to prevent CIA. 39 Two years later, a RCT of 2% topical minoxidil solution decreased the duration but could not prevent CIA. 40 To date, no pharmacologic agent has been approved to prevent or treat CIA.…”

Protection Against Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia

“…The same study also shows that topical application of 2% Minoxidil did not offer protection against CIA by Ara-C, possibly due to the inability of Minoxidil to penetrate hair follicles. In multiple clinic trials, topical Minoxidil (2% solution) shortens the duration of, but cannot prevent CIA in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (73) or gynecologic cancer patients receiving cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and cisplatinum (74), is not effective in prevention of doxorubicin CIA in female patients with different types of solid tumors (75), and fails to induce significant hair re-growth in busulphan and cyclophosphamide-induced permanent alopecia (76).…”

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia: psychosocial impact and therapeutic approaches

“…Notably, topical application of minoxidil was not effective in this animal model. In cancer patients, topical application of a 2% solution of minoxidil reduced the duration of CIA by an average of 50 days in a study of 22 patients undergoing adjuvant therapy for breast cancer [13], but it did not protect against alopecia induced by doxorubicin-based chemotherapy in a study of 48 women with solid tumors [43]. Immunophilin ligands, such as cyclosporin A and FK506, also promote hair growth.…”