A small US study suggests the risk of cardiovascular side effects may not be as significant as previously thought.
Breast cancer survivors can safely use minoxidil to counter alopecia, new US research suggests.
Alopecia is often an unavoidable part of the chemotherapy journey for breast cancer patients, but it has a large effect on quality of life. While low-dose oral minoxidil has been established as an effective off-label treatment, some clinicians may be concerned about the potential cardiovascular side effects.
The findings published in a new research letter may address these concerns, showing low-dose oral minoxidil is both safe and effective in women with breast cancer, regardless of whether they are treated with chemotherapy or surgery and radiation.
The small retrospective cohort study of 51 women with breast cancer found all patients experienced either an improvement in hair growth or stabilisation of hair loss between three and six months after starting treatment, measured by clinician- or patient-reported assessment.
After six months, five patients had worsening growth/stabilisation.
The median minoxidil dose was 1.25mg/day, and all patients reported taking the medication for at least one month, commencing either during or after their breast cancer treatment. Around half of the group received chemotherapy and the other half received surgery and/or radiation.
“Hair is identity, hair is personal, hair often defines our sense of self, and its loss can rob someone of their identity,” dermatologist and joint senior author Associate Professor Kristen Lo Sicco told Healio.
“Women should have options to treat one of the most devastating side effects of chemotherapy.”
Twenty-nine patients (57%) experienced side effects, with hypertrichosis being most commonly reported (61% of all side effects). There were no reports of pericardial side effects and only four instances of tachycardia or hypotension.
This study was limited by its small sample size and retrospective, single-centre design, but the researchers feel the findings have significant potential to improve quality of life if they can be replicated in larger, prospective studies.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 3 December 2024