Reducing chemotherapy-induced alopecia with scalp cooling.

JL The frequency of alopecia varies with different chemotherapy regimens. According to data from Ralph M. Trüeb, MD, alopecia occurs in more than 80% of patients receiving antimicrotubule agents (eg, paclitaxel [Taxol, Bristol-Myers Squibb]), 60–100% of patients receiving topoisomerase inhibitors (eg, doxorubicin), more than 60% of patients receiving alkylators (eg, cyclophosphamide), and 10–50% of patients receiving antimetabolites (eg, 5-fluorouracil plus leucovorin). Given the chemotherapy agents used in breast cancer, many patients treated for this disease are likely to experience chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Colon cancer patients are treated with chemotherapy combinations that are less likely to be associated with alopecia. There are certain agents, such as gemcitabine (Gemzar, Lilly) and vinorelbine, that are not associated with alopecia.