Chemotherapy-Induced Hair Loss

A recent article in the journal Science reported on a potential breakthrough in the search for a way to prevent chemotherapy-related hair loss.

Dr. Stephen Davis of Glaxo Wellcome Research and Development in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and colleagues wrote that they had developed an experimental gel compound called GW8510 that was able to reduce hair loss by up to 50 percent in laboratory rats given chemotherapy.

The compound specifically blocks an enzyme called CDK2, which appears to be a switch involved in the cell-division process. When this enzyme is blocked, they theorized, hair loss would be prevented.

And early laboratory experiments seem to confirm their hypothesis. When the so-called CDK-inhibitor was applied to the scalps of rats given different types of chemotherapy, hair loss was reduced from 33% to 50%. Importantly, the compound prevented hair loss only in the specific area where it was applied. The researchers suggested that this localized effect would therefore not interfere with the cancer-fighting abilities of chemotherapy.

In an earlier presentation to the American Association for Cancer Research, Davis reported on another experiment with laboratory rats given the chemotherapy drug etoposide, which normally results in 90% of the animals having drug-induced hair loss. When treated with GW8510, however, half of the animals had no hair loss whatsoever. (The other half had limited benefit.)

Once again, the synthetic gel did not appear to interfere with the anticancer effects of the etoposide, and other treatment-related side effects were minimal.

"There is a tremendous unmet need to prevent chemotherapy-induced hair loss and eliminate this additional stress factor among patients already emotionally devastated by a cancer diagnosis," he told the attendees at the conference.

Phase I clinical trials in humans are now being planned for patients with advanced breast cancer.

Coping with Hair Loss

Chemotherapy drugs attack fast growing and reproducing cells. Unfortunately, they do not distinguish between rapidly reproducing cells of normal tissues (including hair follicles) and cancer cells. The damage to normal cells can therefore result in side effects such as hair loss.

Not all chemotherapy drugs cause hair loss, and some people experience only mild thinning that is only noticeable to them. Your doctor will be able to tell you whether hair loss is likely to occur with the drug(s) you will receive. If you do lose hair, it will almost always grow back after the treatments are over. However, it might be a different color or texture.

Some people who lose all or most of their hair choose to wear turbans, scarves, caps, wigs, or hairpieces. Others leave their heads uncovered. Still others switch back and forth, depending on whether they are in public or at home with friends and family members. Do whatever feels comfortable for you.

Here are some tips from the American Cancer Society:

• Before treatment begins or at the very start of treatment, buy a wig or hairpiece. Do this before hair loss begins so that the wig shop can match your hair color and texture.
• Be sure to get a prescription from your doctor for the wig, because it is often covered by insurance.
• Obtain a list of wig shops in your area from your doctor or nurse, or from the phone book Yellow Pages.
• Many women who have long hair go to a good salon for a stylish short cut, and have a beautiful wig made from their own hair.
• If you buy a wig, try on many different ones until you find one that you really like. Consider buying two wigs, one for every day and one for special occasions.
• Before you need to wear the wig, be gentle when brushing and shampooing your hair, and wear a hat or scarf outdoors in cold weather to prevent loss of body heat.
• Hair loss can be reduced somewhat by avoiding too much brushing or pulling of hair, and by avoiding heat (e.g., electric rollers, hair dryer, curling iron).
• Use a sunscreen, sunblock, or hat to protect your scalp from the sun.

SOURCES:
Science, January 5, 2001; 291:134-137
91st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, April 4, 2000, San Francisco, CA
The American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org)

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