Protection against cyclophosphamide-induced alopecia by sulfhydryl-containing agents in the newborn rat animal model

Background Alopecia is a common side-effect of cancer chemotherapy. Although this complication has been known for many decades, little progress has been made in its prevention or treatment. Previously, we made the following observations: ( a ) treatment of 8-day-old rats with 1-0-n-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C), doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (CYC) produced either total body alopecia (ara-C and CYC) or alopecia confined to the head and proximal part of the neck (doxorubicin); ( b ) Imuvert, a biological response modifier, and interleukin-1 protected against alopecia-induced by ara-C; and (c) neither Imuvert or interleukin-1 protected against CYC-induced alopecia. Objective Experiments were designed to test for agents to protect against CYC-induced alopecia. Methods Agents were tested in the 8-day-old rats as a model for chemotherapy-induced alopecia. Results Mesna and S-2-(3-aminopropylamino)-ethylphospnorothioic acid (WR-2721) did not offer any protection against chemotherapy-induced alopecia. N-Acetylcysterine offered very good protection against alopecia induced by CYC but not that produced by ara-C in the newborn rate animal model. Conclusion N-Acetylcysteine may prove to be important in the prevention of CYC-induced alopecia, but this needs to be tested in the clinical setting.