Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41064064›Full record

ArticleSkin appendage disorders2026

Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil during Chemotherapy: A Review of the Mechanism and Current Evidence.

Caitlin A Kearney, Allison Gordon, Alina Markova, Azael Freites-Martinez, Ian W Tattersall, Jerry Shapiro, Mario E Lacouture, Kristen I Lo Sicco

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Skin appendage disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Caitlin A KearneyThe Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Allison GordonDermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
Alina MarkovaDermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
Azael Freites-MartinezDermatology Department, Hospital Ruber Juan Bravo, Universidad Europea, Madrid, Spain.
Ian W TattersallThe Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Jerry ShapiroThe Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Mario E LacoutureThe Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Kristen I Lo SiccoThe Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI Michael Jason de la Cruz · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) significantly impacts patients' quality of life. While low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) shows promise in treating CIA after chemotherapy completion, its safety and efficacy when given during active chemotherapy remain unclear. This review examined existing literature on CIA pathogenesis, minoxidil's mechanism of action, and LDOM efficacy to explore its potential use during chemotherapy. Summary: Recent retrospective studies demonstrated LDOMs good tolerability in cancer patients post-chemotherapy, with minimal adverse effects. Scalp cooling, the only Food and Drug Administration-cleared intervention to mitigate CIA, is thought to reduce chemotherapeutic delivery to the hair follicles, whereas minoxidil, a vasodilator, increases blood flow to the follicle. Despite these differing mechanisms, preclinical studies suggest potential benefits of LDOM during chemotherapy. One study demonstrated a protective effect of subcutaneous minoxidil against cytarabine-induced alopecia, while another showed faster regrowth with systemic minoxidil administered concurrently with paclitaxel. LDOM may, therefore, exert benefits through mechanisms beyond vasodilation, potentially by its impact on the hair cycle. Studies on topical minoxidil during chemotherapy show variable results, possibly due to poor adherence or variations in application practices - limitations LDOM could address. Key Messages: Given the psychological impact of CIA and limited treatments, investigation of LDOM's safety and efficacy when initiated during chemotherapy is warranted.

Indexed as

CancerChemotherapy-induced alopeciaMinoxidil

Identifiers

PMID41064064
PMCPMC12503880

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.