The Potential Role of Nutraceuticals as an Adjuvant in Breast Cancer Patients to Prevent Hair Loss Induced by Endocrine Therapy

Approaches to management of endocrine therapy-induced alopecia in breast cancer patients

Alopecia associated with use of endocrine therapy is an underreported adverse effect despite its significant impact on a patient's quality of life. There is a lack of published evidence for the treatment and management of endocrine therapy-induced alopecia (EIA). Current therapeutic strategies for EIA in breast cancer patients primarily include pharmacologic agents for androgenic alopecia given the similar underlying pathophysiology and clinical presentation of hair loss of EIA and other causes of alopecia. This review aims to summarize select prescription and non-prescription agents (i.e., over-the-counter products, nutraceuticals, dietary supplements) that may be used for EIA including general efficacy and safety. Further studies are needed in the breast cancer population to better understand the place in therapy and efficacy of these pharmacologic agents for EIA.

Botanical extract combined with minoxidil improve hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia caused by p.G11R mutations: a case report

PURPOSE

We aim to explore a potential treatment strategy for hair loss.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A male 6-year-old child was diagnosed with hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia 2 (HED2) caused by GJB6 (p.G11R) mutations. He presented at our clinic with diffuse thinning and fine and brittle hair since birth. Additionally, the child exhibited abnormal development of teeth, fingernails, and toenails. The condition of the child's hair had not improved significantly with age. He was treated with botanical extracts combined with Minoxidil.

RESULTS

After one and a half months of treatment, the patient showed remarkable hair growth.

CONCLUSIONS

Our team has previously used botanical extracts in combination for the treatment of autosomal recessive wooly hair in children. In the present case, treatment with botanical extract combined with minoxidil was found to be equally efficacious. This case report provides valuable information for future studies on the use of botanical extracts in treating hair loss, as well as a safe and effective potential treatment strategy for children with congenital alopecia.

Characterization of the role of Facebook groups for patients who use scalp cooling therapy: a survey study

Since the emergence of scalp cooling therapy (SCT) for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA), support groups on social media platforms for interested patients have surfaced. Though there are over 20,000 active members across SCT Facebook groups, little is known about how members use this platform. A 23-question survey was posted in five scalp cooling Facebook groups, reaching 219 women. Results indicated that these Facebook groups play clear roles in providing the following: (1) a supportive community for patients, (2) instructions for SCT use, (3) advice regarding insurance coverage and reimbursement, and (4) recommendations for over-the-counter products for hair loss. Despite reported interest in hair loss products, only 5% of patients sought medical treatment from dermatologists. Due to group-specific access restrictions, private Facebook groups provide patients with a protected platform to learn more about SCT from both those with personal experience and SCT company specialists. Providers may consider recommending these online groups to interested patients during the scalp cooling counseling process. As patients with CIA express a growing interest in over-the-counter hair, eyebrow, and eyelash products, it is important for dermatologists to be aware of where their patients obtain recommendations, and further, if these recommendations have clinical evidence of efficacy.

Nutraceuticals known to promote hair growth do not interfere with the inhibitory action of tamoxifen in MCF7, T47D and BT483 breast cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND

Hair loss/thinning is a common side effect of tamoxifen in estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer therapy. Some nutraceuticals known to promote hair growth are avoided during breast cancer therapy for fear of phytoestrogenic activity. However, not all botanical ingredients have similarities to estrogens, and in fact, no information exists as to the true interaction of these ingredients with tamoxifen. Therefore, this study sought to ascertain the effect of nutraceuticals (+/- estrogen/tamoxifen), on proliferation of breast cancer cells and the relative expression of ERα/β.

METHODS

Kelp, Astaxanthin, Saw Palmetto, Tocotrienols, Maca, Horsetail, Resveratrol, Curcumin and Ashwagandha were assessed on proliferation of MCF7, T47D and BT483 breast cancer cell lines +/- 17β-estradiol and tamoxifen. Each extract was analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) prior to use. Cellular ERα and ERβ expression was assessed by qRT-PCR and western blot. Changes in the cellular localisation of ERα:ERβ and their ratio following incubation with the nutraceuticals was confirmed by immunocytochemistry.

RESULTS

Estradiol stimulated DNA synthesis in three different breast cancer cell lines: MCF7, T47D and BT483, which was inhibited by tamoxifen; this was mirrored by a specific ERa agonist in T47D and BT483 cells. Overall, nutraceuticals did not interfere with tamoxifen inhibition of estrogen; some even induced further inhibition when combined with tamoxifen. The ERα:ERβ ratio was higher at mRNA and protein level in all cell lines. However, incubation with nutraceuticals induced a shift to higher ERβ expression and a localization of ERs around the nuclear periphery.

CONCLUSIONS

As ERα is the key driver of estrogen-dependent breast cancer, if nutraceuticals have a higher affinity for ERβ they may offer a protective effect, particularly if they synergize and augment the actions of tamoxifen. Since ERβ is the predominant ER in the hair follicle, further studies confirming whether nutraceuticals can shift the ratio towards ERβ in hair follicle cells would support a role for them in hair growth. Although more research is needed to assess safety and efficacy, this promising data suggests the potential of nutraceuticals as adjuvant therapy for hair loss in breast cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy.

Nanocarrier-mediated curcumin delivery: An adjuvant strategy for CNS disease treatment

Neurological disorders are a major global challenge, which counts for a substantial slice of disease burden around the globe. In these, the challenging landscape of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and neuro-AIDS, demands innovative and novel therapeutic approaches. Curcumin, a versatile natural compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, shows great potential as a CNS adjuvant therapy. However, its limited bioavailability and suboptimal permeability to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) hamper the therapeutic efficacy of curcumin. This review explores how nanocarrier facilitates curcumin delivery, which has shown therapeutic efficacy for various non-CNS diseases, for example, cancers, and can also revolutionize the treatment outcomes in patients with CNS diseases. Toward this, intranasal administration of curcumin as a non-invasive CNS drug delivery route can also aid its therapeutic outcomes as an adjuvant therapy for CNS diseases. Intranasal delivery of nanocarriers with curcumin improves the bioavailability of curcumin and its BBB permeability, which is instrumental in promoting its therapeutic potential. Furthermore, curcumin's inhibitory effect on efflux transporters will help to enhance the BBB and cellular permeability of various CNS drugs. The therapeutic potential of curcumin as an adjuvant has the potential to yield synergistic effects with CNS drugs and will help to reduce CNS drug doses and improve their safety profile. Taken together, this approach holds a promise for reshaping CNS disease management by maximizing curcumin's and other drugs' therapeutic benefits.

Role of Medicinal plant-derived Nutraceuticals as a potential target for the treatment of breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most challenging cancers to treat, accounting for many cancer-related deaths. Over some years, chemotherapy, hormone treatment, radiation, and surgeries have been used to treat cancer. Unfortunately, these treatment options are unsuccessful due to crucial adverse reactions and multidrug tolerance/resistance. Although it is clear that substances in the nutraceuticals category have a lot of anti-cancer activity, using a supplementary therapy strategy, in this case, could be very beneficial. Nutraceuticals are therapeutic agents, which are nutrients that have drug-like characteristics and can be used to treat diseases. Plant nutraceuticals categorized into polyphenols, terpenoids, vitamins, alkaloids, and flavonoids are part of health food products, that have great potential for combating BC. Nutraceuticals can reduce BC's severity, limit malignant cell growth, and modify cancer-related mechanisms. Nutraceuticals acting by attenuating Hedgehog, Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), Notch, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling are the main pathways in controlling the self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). This article reviews some important nutraceuticals and their modes of action, which can be very powerful versus BC. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Nutraceuticals' importance to the control and diagnosis of breast cancer is undeniable and cannot be overlooked. Natural dietary compounds have a wide range of uses and have been used in traditional medicine. In addition, these natural chemicals can enhance the effectiveness of other traditional medicines. They may also be used as a treatment process independently because of their capacity to affect several cancer pathways. This study highlights a variety of natural chemicals, and their mechanisms of action, routes, synergistic effects, and future potentials are all examined.