Pathobiology of chemotherapy-induced hair loss

Ralf Paus, Iain S. Haslam, Andrey A. Sharov, Vladimir A. Botchkarev

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

218 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Hair loss can be a psychologically devastating adverse effect of chemotherapy, but satisfactory management strategies for chemotherapy-induced alopecia remain elusive. In this Review we focus on the complex pathobiology of this side-effect. We discuss the clinical features and current management approaches, then draw upon evidence from mouse models and human hair-follicle organ-culture studies to explore the main pathobiology principles and explain why chemotherapy-induced alopecia is so challenging to manage. P53-dependent apoptosis of hair-matrix keratinocytes and chemotherapy-induced hair-cycle abnormalities, driven by the dystrophic anagen or dystrophic catagen pathway, play important parts in the degree of hair-follicle damage, alopecia phenotype, and hair-regrowth pattern. Additionally, the degree of hair-follicle stem-cell damage determines whether chemotherapy-induced alopecia is reversible. We highlight the need for carefully designed preclinical research models to generate novel, clinically relevant pointers to how this condition may be overcome.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)50-59
Number of pages10
JournalThe Lancet Oncology
Volume14
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2013
Externally publishedYes

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