Effects of scalp lotion containing alpha lipoic acid derivatives for chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients with gastrointestinal cancer: A prospective cohort study

Abstract

Introduction

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia results in a poor quality of life, compromised immune system, and adverse effects on cancer prognosis. Its prevention is vital in patients with gastrointestinal cancer; however, there are no standard guidelines for prevention. The efficacy of a scalp alpha lipoic acid derivative-containing lotion (ALADL) remains unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of ALADL on chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Methods

This single-center prospective cohort study included 21 patients with gastric and colorectal cancer who received chemotherapy between May 2021 and December 2023. The patients were divided into two groups: those who used ALADL and those who did not. Gross alopecia score and head hair diameter were measured immediately before initiating chemotherapy and after one and three courses.

Results

No significant differences existed in age, sex, cancer type, chemotherapy regimen, clinical stage of TNM classification, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, comorbidity, or medication between the two groups. After three courses of chemotherapy, a significant difference was observed between the ALADL and the non-ALADL groups, with the ALADL group showing significantly larger hair diameters (whole, pigmented, white) (p = 0.022, 0.029, 0.020). Patients who underwent one and three courses of chemotherapy and used ALADL showed a significant increase in white and pigmented hair diameters compared with that noted in patients before chemotherapy (p < 0.05). In the group that did not use ALADL, there were significantly more patients with grade 1 or higher gross alopecia after three courses of chemotherapy compared with that before chemotherapy (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

In this study, an increase in hair diameter after chemotherapy was found in the ALADL-treated group including patients with gastric or colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy; no significant worsening of gross alopecia grade was confirmed. However, as this was an observational study, a randomized controlled trial is warranted to verify the effects of ALADL.