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Minoxidil (Mx) as a prophylaxis of doxorubicin--induced alopecia
R Rodriguez1, M Machiavelli, B Leone
1Grupo Oncológico Cooperativo del Sur (G.O.C.S.), Neuquén, República Argentina.
Background:
Minoxidil (Mx) is known to induce hair growth in men with male-pattern baldness. Based on this potential, the effectiveness of Mx 2% topical solution was evaluated in cancer patients (pts) to prevent doxorubicin-induced alopecia.
Patients And Methods:
48 female pts with different types of solid tumors treated with doxorubicin-based chemotherapy in a dose range of 50-60 mg/m2/cycle were randomly assigned to receive Mx 2% topical solution or placebo.
Results:
88% and 92% of pts in both arms showed severe alopecia (p = ns). No adverse effects were observed.
Conclusion:
In this study Mx 2% topical solution was non-toxic but was not effective in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia.