Will Cancer Drug Be The New Cure for Hair Loss?

Hair loss is a problem that has long been pored over by experts in a constant pursuit of a new and reliable cure. This is what the researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) in New York are trying to prove. And from the look of things, the outcome is quite promising.

The drug, ruxolitinib, which was approved for bone marrow disorder and autoimmune diseases such as cancer is said to have improved hair loss in affected study participants. They are those, like many others, who are suffering from the physical and psychosocial impact of hair loss. This concern has still spurred studies due to the demand of a reliable and convenient treatment.

  

Usual hair loss treatment options

Cortisone injections and hair transplant surgery, although highly effective, may require some amount of discomfort and time to heal. Patients who have isolated patches of baldness may benefit well with cortisone injections, but they have to consider the fact that these have to be done regularly and they can  be uncomfortable. 

This treatment option can be impossible for those who experienced baldness all over their scalp. A hair transplant may be a more plausible option, although would require certain considerations first. But should a patient choose surgery, they have to understand the risks involved and the amount of healing that has to take place, on top of the cost. This is why, as much as it is a very promising hair loss treatment, a lot of hair loss victims place it as a last option.

Ruxolitinib

This particular drug is a Janus kinase inhibitor, or a JAK inhibitor. It is used to treat cancer and other inflammatory conditions. These type of drugs suppress the action of the immune system by blocking certain enzymes.

The Study

In this study, they chose patients who are suffering from moderate to sever alopecia areata. This is defined as more than 30% hair loss. Each of the patient were given 20mg of Ruxolitinib twice daily. Upon monitoring, it became evident that hair growth was fully restored within 4-5 month's time. It was also discovered that the T-cells, which was responsible for attacking the hair follicles, were no longer present in the scalps of the participants.

Breakthrough

The findings of these particular study was published only recently and it showed that Ruxolitinib was able to result in hair restoration. The researchers were able to identify the immune cells that are responsible for destroying the hair follicles in people who are afflicted with alopecia areata, a hair loss problem known to be an autoimmune condition. This is when your very own body attacks the hair follicles causing them to shed and fall off.

This type of hair loss can already cause anxiety, poor self confidence and disturbs one's body image because it leaves the head with bald patches. One study participant even shared that his condition affected his social and even romantic relationships. So if the results of this study proves to be a reliable solution to hair loss, this will surely bring relief to numerous hair loss sufferers as it is more convenient to use.

According to Dr. Raphael Clynes, who was one of the head researchers of the study, they only just started testing the drug in patients. They even claimed that if the drug continues to show a good safety profile and succesful results, it will provide a “positive impact on the lives of people with this disease.”

Dr. David Bickers of the Departmentof Dermatology at CUMC in a comment about these findings he said:

“There are few tools in the arsenal for the treatment of alopecia areata that have any demonstrated efficacy. This is a major step forward in improving the standard of care for patients suffering from this devastating disease.”

Tofacinib, also a JAK inhibitor and an approved treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in Europe and the US, also made waves when studies also showed that it was able to restore a full head of hair in a human patient. These two drugs have been experimented on mice and both showed ability to restore hair in those that are affected with alopecia within 12 weeks.

Both Ruxolitinib and Tofacinib in pill form are able to block immune pathways, which is why it is able to prevent or correct autoimmune conditions. With that said, it is also true that these drugs have no connection in treating male pattern-baldness or andorgentic alopecia – the kind of hair loss that is caused by hormonal irregularities. This is the kind of balding that is most common among the elderly gentlemen, but can also affect even those who are still in their twenties.

Even with the promise of a solution, this drug remains to be considered with caution. It may have the makings of an effective hair loss drug, but this can also has negative effects to the body when taken in regular doses. Significant side effects and adverse reactions are among the important aspects that have to be looked into. 

Other experts are also weighing in that the systematic action of the drug as it is taken orally can have a toxic effect on the body, which can lead to blood and liver problems among a slew of ailments. Some even expressed that it would be a greater breakthrough if the drug can be available as a topical treatment instead.

There is also no assurance as of yet that as to whether it would work to all patients. But researchers would also admit that more testing still needs to be done.

Bye Bye Baldness, Thanks To Arthritis Drugs

Kyle Rhodes after using an arthritis drug
to treat alopecia areata (Image Source)

It's funny sometimes how answers to life's problems come in unexpected packages. In this case of baldness cure, it comes in the form of an arthritis drug. It is when a certain Kyle Rhodes, who has spent most of his life hairless, was the lucky patient to try it and enjoyed its successful results. From a head and body completely barren of hair, he is now happy with how a lot of it is growing in.

In a CNN interview the 25-year-old Rhodes shared that he was diagnosed with a condition called Alopecia Universalis when he was just 2 years old. This is when a person not only loses the hairs on his head, but also the ones all over his body. It started to fall off in patches but it was by the time he turned 18 when every hair from his body was totally gone. This was a total blow to his self-esteem and social life, which also left him the target of a lot of rude comments and jokes.

Alopecia Universalis at a Glance

Alopecia is a condition where a person loses some part or all of his hair. This may either be a temporary occurrence or a permanent condition and is classified into different types. This includes the following:

Alopecia Areata (AA) – describes the loss of hair that occur in patches all anywhere on your body.

Alopecia Totalis (AT) – this is total hair loss on the scalp.

Alopecia Universalis (AU) – total hair loss all over the body and plaque psoriasis, which is characterized by red scaly areas of the skin.

Alopecia Barbae – loss of facial hair in men particularly in the bearded area

Alopecia Mucinosa – a type of alopecia that is characterized by scaly patches

Androgenetic Alopecia – male pattern baldness also considered to be a hereditary form of hair loss

Traction Alopecia – caused by too much force applied on the hair

Unexpected Answer

Rhodes, sought any help he could find, and he was referred to Yale University. Dr. Brett A.King, who is the assistant professor of dermatology at YaleUniversity School of Medicine and also the senior author of the case study, suggested that since the problem is caused by an autoimmune disorder, why not treat it with a drug that is also used for another autoimmune case? For this he chose Xeljanz, a drug that is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Xeljanz, which is also known as tofacitinib citrate, is an FDA-approved drug for rheumatoid arthritis. But it was also found to be a successful treatment for psoriasis in humans. But more than that, what is also a revelation is that it is also able to reverse alopecia areata in mice studies.

So they tried the treatment on Rhodes and placed him on tofacitinib at 10 mg daily. After two months of continued treatment, his psoriasis showed some improvement. More than that, he also grew scalp and facial hair – the very first ones the he had grown in years. The therapy continued on for three more months at an increased dose of 15 mg daily. With that, the patient showed more improved results as Rhodes completely grown all of his scalp hair and also showed more visible eyebrows, facial hair, eyelashes and even some armpit hairs. He was already sporting full regrowth at eight months time.

The drug encourages hair regrowth by basically turning off the immune system's attack on the hair follicles. Tofacitinib was able to improve some cases of psoriasis, but in the case of Rhodes, it showed to be mildly effective.

Side effects

It is only normal to be concerned on whether this drug poses certain side effects just like any other. But according to Rhodes, he did not experience any side effects, which was also reflected on his lab tests as it showed no abnormalities.

Dr. King is ecstatic with the results but also shares that he would like to try it out on more patients. He submitted a proposal for a clinical trial for a tofacitinib cream to serve as treatment for alopecia areata.

However, a certain Dr. George Cotsarelis, the chairman of dermatology at the University of Pannsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, expressed concerned when asked by CNN for comments. He explains that some people who have taken the drug have died due to infections like tuberculosis. Other was even threatened with more serious cases such as the increased risk of cancer, which was also mentioned in the product's website.

But it is that very reason why King was interested in developing the cream so that instead of exposing the whole body with the effects of the oral drug, the action now will be more focused and localized to the areas that are affected with hair loss.

Drawbacks

Both doctors shared the same point that the drug will work for the type of baldness that is caused by old age. So for those who are in their twilight and still wishing to regain lost hair, it might not be good idea to get your hopes up.

Another concern is that it is not yet clear whether you should be taking the drug for life to maintain the results. Of course with long use, one would really be concerned with eventual side effects.

But it is the cost of this drug that would really have most people backing down. Tofacitinib is a new and expensive drug. Not counting insurance, this could take you back $25,000 every year. 

Despite being a rather hopeful case, one should still practice extra caution. This drug or treatment still needs further studies. In time, one can only hope that it will surely give them the relief that they have long waited for. 

Hair Cloning: The New Trend in Hair Loss Treatments

Hair Loss Cure? Scientists Find Way To
Regrow Hair With Person's Own Cells

Hair loss is a problem that affects millions of men, and even women, worldwide. It has been a problem that has gone for centuries, which is why experts have created a variety of treatments already. 

Since science is forever evolving and people are always looking for ways to find the best and most efficient solutions, they now came up with hair cloning.

This new technique in hair restoration involves the removal of a small patch of cells from the back of the scalp that are involved in hair formation and then culture them in a petri dish in a laboratory setting to increase their numbers. Once this is done, the cloned hairs are then transplanted into the recipient area.

Professor Angela Christiano from the dermatology and genetics department in Columbia University in New York City is the lead author of this study. She said, “This approach has the potential to transform the medical treatment of hair loss.”

Her interest in such study was sparked by her own experience. She was struck with the type of hair loss that was called alopecia areata, which reduced her luxurious hair into bald spots. She was unfortunate to catch this genetic condition which runs in her family.

Together with a team of researchers from Durham University, they made this discovery after examining rodents and their ability to regenerate hair after their skin cells that produce hair were harvested and then transplanted back on their skin.

Similar attempts were also done on human subjects; however this has proven to be fruitless. This is because the cells mysteriously lose their ability to generate hair follicles after they are transplanted. They simply revert to basic skin cells when the dermal papilla cells (cells found on the base of hair follicles) are placed in conventional, two-dimensional tissue culture.

Despite that, the researchers still saw the possibility of these hair transplants to mimic the replication process that occurs in rodent cells.

One of Christiano's partners from Durham University, a certain Dr. Colin Jahoda, they noticed that the rodent papilla cells formed clumps while in culture, and the human cells did not. He surmised that the clumps may be necessary. This led him to change the usual one-cell layer on the petri dish and used the “hanging drop culture” which is an older method.

The results of this technique created a difference. Out of seven samples, five were able to grow new hair for six weeks. DNA tests confirmed that the new follicles were human, and these also matched the donors.

Even with the successful turnout, they still believe that this process still remains to be a work in progress.

There are a number of factors that still has to be considered before they open this procedure out to the public. First is the cost of the procedure and the potential side effects. The researchers are also quite uncertain if the cloned hair follicles will come out to be of the right quality, otherwise strange hair could result.

If these techniques do come out to be successful, these will provide more hope for men and women who are suffering from excessive hair loss. They will no longer worry about the scarring or limited hair donors.

Professor Christiano said, “This method offers the possibility of inducing large numbers of hair follicles or rejuvenating existing hair follicles, starting with cells grown from just a few hundred donor hairs. It could make hair transplantation available to individuals with a limited number of follicles, including those with female-pattern hair loss, scarring alopecia, and hair loss due to burns.

This technique may still have to be perfected, but if it does turn out to be successful this can certainly help a large chunk of hair loss sufferers whatever the cause may be. The patients are able to actually grow new hair follicles using their own cells. So this means that you don't have to worry about thinning in balding areas or if the number of donor hair is severely low.

Watch Professor Angela Christiano talks about New Hair Loss Treatment

Source and Citation: 

1. techventures.columbia.edu/blog/profile/dr-angela-christiano-discovers-genetic-basis-hair-loss

2. huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/21/hair-loss-cure-regrow-cells_n_4138137.html

3. forbes.com/sites/melaniehaiken/2013/10/22/researchers-re-grow-hair-in-mice-offering-hope-for-hair-loss

Vampire Hair Treatment - A New Baldness Cure?

NBC Palm Beach WPTV Ashleigh Walker visited Dr. Alan Bauman at Bauman Medical Group in Boca Raton. Image Source: Flickr.com

It seems that vampires are not only invading novels, movies and the hearts of teenage girls, but also even in the hair care industry. 

Today, a new non-invasive treatment is introduced in the market for restoring thinning hair using the patient’s own blood. They are calling it the “Vampire Hair Treatment”, because it uses the patient’s own blood to regrow hair where bald patches occur.

This new-age treatment involves the extraction of the patient’s own blood, and then processing it through a machine to separate the platelet rich plasma. This is the blood component that will be injected into the head to do the regeneration process.

This treatment is also used in facial and hand rejuvenation, also called a PRP treatment. It is even marketed as the Vampire facelift to attract a big following and create an interesting flare. But even with that aside, the treatment has proven to be safe and effective.

Once injected into the scalp, the PRP stimulates new stem cells in the area to promote hair growth. To prove this claim, a research was conducted on people who are battling an autoimmune disorder affecting the hair called alopecia areata. The study, which is published in the British Journal ofDermatology, also stated that this condition affects about 2% of the population. But scientists also believe that this can also help those who are suffering from male pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia.

In the study the researchers recruited 45 volunteers who all have alopecia areata, and they are randomly selected into the following groups: the placebo group, the PRP group and the triamcinolone group. For all three groups the PRP treatment was injection on just half of their scalp leaving the other untreated. Each of the patients received treatment three times with an interval of one month, and then they are monitored for 12 months.

The possible outcomes they are looking for include hair regrowth, hair dystrophy, cell proliferation and a burning or itching sensation.

At the end of the study, the authors observed that PRP treatment was able to increase hair growth significantly.  

There was also a reduction in hair dystrophy as well as burning and itching sensations. None of the participants also reported of any side effects while on treatment.

The study conclusion states:

This pilot study, which is the first to investigate the effects of PRP on AA, suggests that PRP may serve as a safe and effective treatment option in AA, and calls for more extensive controlled studies with this method.

According to a certain Dr. Fabio Rinaldi, he believes that this is one of the best treatments for hair loss aside from surgery. The platelets actually contain very powerful growth factors that stimulate cellular metabolism and activity.

Based on those who have tried the vampire hair treatment, the most painful part of the procedure is getting the head numbed. Afterwards, the platelets are then injected into the areas of the scalp that are already showing signs of thinning.

However, PRP treatment won’t do much of an effect in areas where follicles are completely destroyed. It works on areas where hair is still present however they are wispier, thinner, and weaker.

The good thing with this procedure is that it leaves no evidence that it has been done. In fact, you can even wash and style your hair after the procedure. The final result often takes up to a year, but one can already notice improvements in 90 days.

Even before PRP treatments were already used to ensure the healthy growth of hair grafts in hair transplant surgery. This augments the nutrition and support that is necessary for hair growth and health.

Scientists at the International Hair Research Foundation, Hebrew University Medical Centre in Israel and the Universtiy of Brescia in Italy are making further research about this treatment. They are looking into ways to develop the treatment into a cream to prevent the need for injections.

With the overwhelming effects of alopecia on the self-esteem and self-image of the person affected, this treatment can give them back the normalcy they deserve. It is a safe alternative hair loss treatment that has actually demonstrated impressive results. Nina Goad of the British Association of Dermatologists was even quoted saying, “Alopecia is known to lead to overwhelming effects on the patient’s quality of life and self-esteem. This could offer hope to thousands. 

Link to Headlines

Scientists' 'vampire treatment' for baldness. The Telegraph. Published May 07, 2013

The vampire 'cure' for baldness: Scientists inject patient's own blood into head to stimulate hair growth'.  The Daily Mail. Published May 5, 2013