Table 3.

Investigational drug therapies for chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

Drug (Trade name)	Structure	M, F, Both, animal	Class/route	Mechanism	Ref.
Cyclosporin A (Neoral)		Rats	Inhibitor of T cells; topical	Binds to cyclophilin and inhibits calcineurin; possibly increases P-glycoporotein	[162]
Immuvert/N-acetyl cysteine		Rats	Immunomodulator derived from Serratia marscescens/thiol-based antioxidant; topical	Activates NK cells, produces IL1β/inhibits ROS	[163]
IL-1		Rats	Pro-inflammatory cytokine, i.p. injection	Prevents HF cells undergoing mitosis	[164]
Calcitriol, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 (Topitriol)		Rats	Active metabolite of vitamin D; topical	Stimulates differentiation in HF	[165]
PTH(1–34), PTH(7–34)		Mice	Parathyroid hormone receptor agonist or antagonist; systemic	Shifted HF towards ‘mild dystrophic anagen’; reduced apoptosis	[166]
AS101		Both; Clinical Trial; Rats	Tellurium containing redox modulator; topical/ IV injection	Immunomodulator Anti-inflammatory Antioxidant	[167]
liposomal MAD11		Rats	Topical liposomes containing mAb against doxorubicin	Neutralizes any chemotherapy that arrives at HF	[168]
Adrenalin (Epinephrine) or norepinephrine		Rats	Topical vasoconstrictors	Prevents chemotherapy accumulating in HF	[169]
EGF		Rats	Growth factor; topical	Prevents HF cells undergoing mitosis	[170]
Acidic Fibroblast growth factor		Rats	Growth factor; s.c. injection	Prevents HF cells undergoing mitosis	[170]
Cuscuta reflexa Roxb extract		Rats	Botanical extract in EtOH/PE containing coumestans, triterpenes, saponins, flavonoids; topical		[171]
α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone		ex vivo HF	Endogenous peptide hormone of the melanocortin family	Cytoprotective to HF, upregulates heme oxidase-1	[172]
p53 inhibitors; Caspase-3 inhibitors		Investigational	Small molecule inhibitors; topical	Prevent apoptosis in HF	[173]
Anti-death rFNK protein-TAT peptide		Rats	Site-directed mutagenesis of rat Bcl-x(L); topical	Anti-apoptotic and cytoprotective activity	[174]

HF: Hair follicle; ROS: Reactive oxygen species.