Chemotherapy
Induced Alopecia
Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is a common and distressing side effect of cancer treatment, resulting from the damage chemotherapy agents inflict on rapidly dividing hair follicle cells. While hair regrowth typically occurs after the completion of chemotherapy, some patients experience incomplete or delayed recovery, leading to persistent hair thinning or baldness. This has prompted interest in exploring treatments that can promote hair regeneration post-chemotherapy.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has emerged as a potential option for addressing hair loss. PRP involves concentrating platelets from the patient’s own blood and injecting them into the scalp, delivering growth factors that may stimulate hair follicle activity and promote regrowth. Studies have demonstrated PRP’s effectiveness in treating various types of hair loss, including androgenic alopecia. However, its application specifically for chemotherapy-induced hair loss remains under investigation. A clinical trial is currently exploring the efficacy of PRP in treating permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia and endocrine therapy-induced alopecia in breast cancer patients. Participants receive PRP injections into the scalp every four weeks for a total of 12 weeks, aiming to assess improvements in hair density and coverage.
Despite the promise of PRP therapy, there is a scarcity of robust clinical evidence supporting its use for post-chemotherapy hair regrowth. A study investigating the effects of PRP and mononuclear cells on CIA in a rat model found that while PRP contains growth factors like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), which are hypothesized to stimulate hair follicles, no studies have been conducted on the effect of PRP and mononuclear cells on CIA. Consequently, more rigorous research, including well-designed clinical trials, is necessary to determine the safety, efficacy, and optimal protocols for PRP treatment in patients experiencing hair loss after chemotherapy.
References:
National Cancer Institute. “PRP Injection for Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia.” Retrieved from cancer.gov
PMC. “PRP and Mononuclear Cells in Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia.” Retrieved from pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
