Minoxidil (Mx) as a prophylaxis of doxorubicin--induced alopecia.
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.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study Mx 2% topical solution was non-toxic but was not effective in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
Rodriguez
R
R
Grupo Oncológico Cooperativo del Sur (G.O.C.S.), Neuquén, República Argentina.
Machiavelli
M
M
Leone
B
B
Romero
A
A
Cuevas
M A
MA
Langhi
M
M
Romero Acuña
L
L
Romero Acuña
J
J
Amato
S
S
Barbieri
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008914:Minoxidil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
D008914:Minoxidil; D004317:Doxorubicin