MOTIVATION TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF PRP ON CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED ALOPECIA (CIA) AND ENDOCRINE THERAPY-INDUCED ALOPECIA (EIA).
Leore LAVIN MS, Alex PAN MD, Anthony ROSSI MD, Antoine TURZI, CEO Regen Lab.
THE FINDING: ADDITIONAL TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE NEEDED FOR PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM ALOPECIA RESULTING FROM CANCER TREATMENTSX.
Alopecia, a frequent side effect observed in people undergoing chemotherapy and endocrine therapy for breast cancer [4, 5, 6].
-
Studies indicate that around 65 % of patients undergoing chemotherapy are likely to suffer from chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) [7].
-
In addition, up to 34 % of breast cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy (EIA) report hair loss or thinning [7].
Persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) remains a concern even after treatment is stopped, with reported prevalence rates ranging from 42 to 46 % [9, 10].
-
Certain antineoplastic agents, such as taxanes, are particularly implicated in AIC, affecting a significant proportion of patients [9, 10].
-
Long-term follow-up studies show that a significant number of patients fail to regain their pre-treatment hair density and thickness, even three years after chemotherapy [...9].
As breast cancer survival rates increase due to advances in early detection and the use of long-term adjuvant therapies, it becomes increasingly important to address the psychosocial impact of alopecia [3, 13].
-
Alopecia can lead to social withdrawal, psychological distress and reduced quality of life in survivors [...4, 5, 6].
However, treatment options for persistent AIC and endocrine therapy-induced alopecia (EIA) are limited.
-
Particularly for people who do not respond to first-line treatments such as minoxidil® and spironolactone [11].
THE NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES.
PRP therapy has shown promise in increasing hair density and thickness in other types of alopecia, particularly female androgenetic alopecia [8, 12].
-
PRP, rich in growth factors, promotes tissue regeneration, collagen synthesis and angiogenesis, potentially contributing to hair regrowth [2].
-
The combination of PRP with topical minoxidilÒ has been shown to induce significant hair growth in women with androgenetic alopecia [2].
Given the similarities in hormonal mechanisms between EIA and androgenetic alopecia, PRP therapy presents a plausible treatment option for breast cancer survivors suffering from EIA.
-
Thus, our randomized controlled pilot study, involving 27 breast cancer survivors with EIA or persistent AIC who had not previously responded to conventional alopecia treatments, seeks to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PRP in this population.
By generating empirical evidence in our study, we aim to contribute to the expansion of treatment options available for breast cancer survivors struggling with EIA and persistent AIC.
REFERENCES
- C. Alonso, R.L. Rosenfield. Molecular genetics and endocrine mechanisms of hair growth. Horm. Res. 2003; 60(1): 1-13.
- Alves, R. Grimalt. Platelet-Rich Plasma in Combination With 5% Minoxidil Topical Solution and 1 mg Oral Finasteride for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized Placebo- Controlled, Double-Blind, Half-Head Study. Dermatol. Surg. 2018 ; 44(1) : 126-30.
- Bhoyrul et al. Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Response to Treatment of Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Breast Cancer Survivors. JAMA Dermatology (2021); 157(11): 1335-42.
- F. Cash. The psychology of hair loss and its implications for patient care. Clin. Dermatol. 2001; 19(2): 161-6.
- Freites-Martinez et al. Endocrine therapy-induced alopecia in patients with breast cancer. JAMA Dermatology 2018; 154(6): 670-5.
- Freites-Martinez et al. Hair disorders in cancer survivors. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2019; 80(5): 1199-213.
- Gallicchio, C. Calhoun, and K.J. Helzlsouer. Aromatase inhibitor therapy and hair loss among breast cancer survivors. Breast cancer research and treatment 2013;142(2): 435-43.
- Gentile, S. Garcovich. Systematic Review of Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Androgenetic Alopecia Compared with Minoxidil(®), Finasteride(®), and Adult Stem Cell-Based Therapy. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020; 21(8).
- Kang, et al. Permanent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Patients with Breast Cancer: A 3-Year Prospective Cohort Study. Oncologist 2019; 24(3): 414-20.
- M. Kim et al. Chemotherapy-induced irreversible alopecia in early breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2017; 163(3): 527-33.
- Moscetti et al. Adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy in early breast cancer: what factors lead patients to discontinue treatment? Tumori 2015; 101(5): 469-73.
- Shapiro et al. Evaluation of platelet-rich plasma as a treatment for androgenetic alopecia: A randomized controlled trial. J Am Acad Dermatol 2020; 83(5): 1298-303.
- Soldato et al. The Future of Breast Cancer Research in the Survivorship Field. Oncology and Therapy 2023; 11(2): 199-229.
