Rapid hair depigmentation in patient treated with pazopanib

Robert Šeparović1, Mirjana Pavlović1, Tajana Silovski2

  • 1Department of Medical Oncology, Klinicki Bolnicki centar Sestre milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia.

BMJ Case Reports
|August 25, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Pazopanib, a cancer drug, can cause rapid hair depigmentation, a rare side effect. This rapid hair color change may indicate successful cancer treatment, though it

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Dermatology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Pazopanib is a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor used to treat metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
  • Hair color change is a known, gradual side effect of pazopanib therapy.

Observation:

  • A patient experienced multiple pazopanib side effects.
  • This was followed by rapid, overnight hair and eyebrow depigmentation within weeks of therapy.

Findings:

  • This represents the first reported case of rapid hair depigmentation linked to pazopanib or similar multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
  • The rapid depigmentation is presumed to result from a summation of various mechanisms.

Implications:

  • Rapid hair depigmentation, while stressful, may serve as a potential indicator of pazopanib treatment efficacy.
  • Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and clinical significance of this side effect.

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