Efficacy of cooling therapy and α-lipoic acid derivative against chemotherapy-induced alopecia in an animal model

Effects of scalp lotion containing alpha lipoic acid derivatives for chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients with gastrointestinal cancer: A prospective cohort study

IntroductionChemotherapy-induced alopecia results in a poor quality of life, compromised immune system, and adverse effects on cancer prognosis. Its prevention is vital in patients with gastrointestinal cancer; however, there are no standard guidelines for prevention. The efficacy of a scalp alpha lipoic acid derivative-containing lotion (ALADL) remains unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of ALADL on chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.MethodsThis single-center prospective cohort study included 21 patients with gastric and colorectal cancer who received chemotherapy between May 2021 and December 2023. The patients were divided into two groups: those who used ALADL and those who did not. Gross alopecia score and head hair diameter were measured immediately before initiating chemotherapy and after one and three courses.ResultsNo significant differences existed in age, sex, cancer type, chemotherapy regimen, clinical stage of TNM classification, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, comorbidity, or medication between the two groups. After three courses of chemotherapy, a significant difference was observed between the ALADL and the non-ALADL groups, with the ALADL group showing significantly larger hair diameters (whole, pigmented, white) (p = 0.022, 0.029, 0.020). Patients who underwent one and three courses of chemotherapy and used ALADL showed a significant increase in white and pigmented hair diameters compared with that noted in patients before chemotherapy (p < 0.05). In the group that did not use ALADL, there were significantly more patients with grade 1 or higher gross alopecia after three courses of chemotherapy compared with that before chemotherapy (p < 0.05).ConclusionsIn this study, an increase in hair diameter after chemotherapy was found in the ALADL-treated group including patients with gastric or colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy; no significant worsening of gross alopecia grade was confirmed. However, as this was an observational study, a randomized controlled trial is warranted to verify the effects of ALADL.

Cancer-related alopecia and wig acquisition: how age, sex, and treatment affect patient choices

PURPOSE

This study aimed to explore the prevalence and cost of wig purchases among patients with cancer in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, and examine the relationship between wig purchases and various demographic, social, and clinical factors. The findings aim to provide insights into appearance care and support systems for patients with cancer, particularly wig subsidies.

METHODS

A survey was conducted between July and August 2023 among 3000 patients with cancer at 13 designated cancer care hospitals in Okayama Prefecture. Data on demographics, cancer treatment status, and wig purchase details were collected. Statistical analyses, including the Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and logistic regression, were performed to identify factors significantly associated with wig purchases.

RESULTS

Among the 863 respondents, 31.4% (271 patients) reported purchasing wigs. Factors significantly associated with wig purchase included young age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04), female sex (OR = 1.61), and current cancer treatment (OR = 1.16). No significant correlation was found between wig purchase and household income, although higher-income patients tended to purchase more expensive wigs.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that younger female patients with cancer and those undergoing treatment were more likely to purchase wigs, highlighting the importance of appearance care and the need for enhanced financial support for low-income patients.

Alpha-lipoic Acid: An Antioxidant with Anti-aging Properties for Disease Therapy

The anti-aging effects of alpha-lipoic acid (αLA), a natural antioxidant synthesized in human tissues, have attracted a growing interest in recent years. αLA is a short- -chain sulfur-containing fatty acid occurring in the mitochondria of all kinds of eukaryotic cells. Both the oxidized disulfide of αLA and its reduced form (dihydrolipoic acid, DHLA) exhibit prominent antioxidant function. The amount of αLA inside the human body gradually decreases with age resulting in various health disorders. Its lack can be compensated by supplying from external sources such as dietary supplements or medicinal dosage forms. The primary objectives of this study were the analysis of updated information on the latest two-decade research regarding the use of αLA from an anti-aging perspective. The information was collected from PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Google Scholar, and clinicaltrials.gov. Numerous in silico, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies revealed that αLA shows a protective role in biological systems by direct or indirect reactive oxygen/nitrogen species quenching. αLA demonstrated beneficial properties in the prevention and treatment of many age-related disorders such as neurodegeneration, metabolic disorders, different cancers, nephropathy, infertility, and skin senescence. Its preventive effects in case of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are of particular interest. Further mechanistic and clinical studies are highly recommended to evaluate the wide spectrum of αLA therapeutic potential that could optimize its dietary intake for prevention and alleviation disorders related to aging.

Effect of N-acetylcysteine on hair follicle changes in mouse model of cyclophosphamide-induced alopecia: histological and biochemical study

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) represents one of the most severe side effects of chemotherapy, which forces some patients to reject cancer treatment. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms of CIA are not clearly understood, which makes it difficult to discover efficient preventive or therapeutic procedures for this adverse effect. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has a strong antioxidant activity as it stimulates glutathione synthesis and acts as an oxygen radical scavenger. The current study tried to investigate the efficacy of NAC in preserving biochemical parameters and hair follicle structure against cyclophosphamide (CYP) administration. In total, 40 adult female C57BL/6 mice were induced to enter anagen by depilation (day 0) and divided into four groups: group I (control), group II (CYP) received a single dose of CYP [150 mg/kg body weight (B.W.)/intraperitoneal injection (IP)] at day 9, group III (CYP & NAC) received a single dose of CYP at day 9 as well as NAC (500 mg/kg B.W./day/IP) from day 6-16, and group IV (NAC) received NAC from day 6-16. CYP administration in group II induced an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD), histological hair follicle dystrophy, disruption of follicular melanogenesis, overexpression of p53, and loss of ki67 immunoreactivity. NAC coadministration in group III reversed CYP-induced alterations in the biochemical parameters and preserved hair follicle structure, typical follicular melanin distribution as well as normal pattern of p53 and ki67 expression. These findings indicated that NAC could be used as an efficient and safe therapeutic option for hair loss induced by chemotherapy.

The efficacy of HDDPiW-jSB solution on docetaxel-induced alopecia of rats

OBJECTIVE

Chemotherapy induced alopecia (CIA) is one of the most common side effects in cancer patients, however; it doesn't have an effective pharmacological treatment yet. In this study we aimed to research the protective effect of newly developed HDDPiW-jSB solution on docetaxel (DTX) -induced rat alopecia model.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Docetaxel (10 mg/kg/week) was administered to the 6-8 months old rats for three weeks. HDDPiW-jSB solution was applied once or twice a week for 4 weeks beginning prior to one week before DTX. Rat hair follicles were evaluated with hematoxylin-eosin and immune-histochemical staining.

RESULTS

In the first stage of this study, alopecia was successfully developed by DTX (10 mg/kg/three times) application. In the second stage of the study, application of HDDPiW-jSB solution, did not change the study parameters significantly on control group. The solution improved the anagen hair follicle count and Bcl-2 levels in the skin samples of DTX-induced alopecic rat groups, especially when applied twice weekly. Additionally, level of Caspase 3 was decreased. HDDPiW-jSB solution was safe when applied on the skin.

CONCLUSION

Topical HDDPiW-jSB solution could be effective and safe for the protection of DTX-induced alopecia in rat models.

Controlling Hair Loss by Regulating Apoptosis in Hair Follicles: A Comprehensive Overview

Apoptosis is a physiological process that occurs in all cell types of the human body, and it profoundly changes the fate of hair by affecting hair follicle cells. This review outlines the cellular changes, intrinsic biochemical characteristics, and mechanisms underlying apoptosis and summarizes the hair follicle life cycle, including development, cycle stages, and corresponding cellular changes. Finally, the relationship between apoptosis and the hair cycle is discussed and the significance of apoptosis in hair loss conditions and drug treatments is highlighted. Apoptosis induces cellular changes and exhibits distinctive properties through intricate signaling pathways. Hair follicles undergo cyclic periods of growth, regression, and dormancy. Apoptosis is closely correlated with the regression phase by triggering hair follicle cell death and shedding. Regulation of apoptosis in hair follicles plays an essential role in hair loss due to maladies and drug treatments. Mitigating apoptosis can enhance hair growth and minimize hair loss. A comprehensive understanding of the correlation between apoptosis and the hair cycle can facilitate the development of novel treatments to prevent hair loss and stimulate hair regeneration.

Prevention and Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia: What Is Available and What Is Coming?

Millions of new cancer patients receive chemotherapy each year. In addition to killing cancer cells, chemotherapy is likely to damage rapidly proliferating healthy cells, including the hair follicle keratinocytes. Chemotherapy causes substantial thinning or loss of hair, termed chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA), in approximately 65% of patients. CIA is often ranked as one of the most distressing adverse effects of chemotherapy, but interventional options have been limited. To date, only scalp cooling has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent CIA. However, several factors, including the high costs not always covered by insurance, preclude its broader use. Here we review the current options for CIA prevention and treatment and discuss new approaches being tested. CIA interventions include scalp cooling systems (both non-portable and portable) and topical agents to prevent hair loss, versus topical and oral minoxidil, photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, among others, to stimulate hair regrowth after hair loss. Evidence-based studies are needed to develop and validate methods to prevent hair loss and/or accelerate hair regrowth in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, which could significantly improve cancer patients’ quality of life and may help improve compliance and consequently the outcome of cancer treatment.