Method of preventing and treating chemotherapy-induced alopecia

Abstract

The present invention relates, in general, to a method of inhibiting alopecia, or hair loss, and, in particular, to a method of inhibiting alopecia induced by chemotherapeutic agents. The invention further relates to a composition suitable for use in such a method. Active agents for use in the above method include proteinaceous growth factors, such as EGF, and/or vitamin D 3 or metabolites thereof.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of preventing or reducing chemotherapy-induced alopecia comprising administering to a patient undergoing chemotherapy vitamin D 3 , or derivative, analog or structural analog thereof, in an amount sufficient to effect said prevention or reduction.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said derivative is 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3  or 1,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-cholecalciferol.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said vitamin D 3  or derivative, analog or structural analog thereof is administered topically.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is cell cycle specific.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is cytosine arabinoside.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is non cell cycle specific.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is Cytoxan.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is a cell cycle specific agent in combination with a non cell cycle specific agent.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein vitamin D 3 , or derivative, analog or structural variant thereof, is administered prior to the initiation of said chemotherapy.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising administering to said patient at least one proteinaceous growth factor in an amount sufficient to effect said prevention or reduction.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said growth factor is epidermal growth factor.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said growth factor is fibroblast growth factor.  
     
     
         13 . A method of preventing or reducing chemotherapy-induced alopecia comprising administering to a patient undergoing chemotherapy a proteinaceous growth factor in an amount sufficient to effect said prevention or reduction.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein said growth factor is epidermal growth factor.  
     
     
         15 . A method of stimulating hair growth comprising administering to a warm-blooded animal in need of such stimulation Vitamin D 3  or metabolite, analog or derivative thereof, in an amount sufficient to effect said stimulation.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising administering to said animal a proteinaceous growth factor.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said growth factor is epidermal growth factor.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein said warm-blooded animal is a human suffering from sale pattern baldness.  
     
     
         19 . A composition suitable for use in stimulating hair growth comprising an effective amount of a combination of vitamin D 3 , or metabolite, analog or derivative thereof, and a proteinaceous growth factor, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         21 . The composition according to claim  20  wherein said composition is in the form a gel, cream, lotion or ointment.