Paclitaxel/Platinum combination regimen and alopecia

Introduction: Alopecia in paclitaxel and platinum combination treatment that is widely used in gynecological oncology was evaluated. Materials and method: The study evaluated retrospectively and the data o f toxicity belonging to 470 patients who underwent surgery in the period from 1993 to 2006 because o f epithelial ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, primary peritoneal papillary serous tumor or advanced stage endometrial cancer and were given 6 cycles o f paclitaxel and platinum chemotherapy as first line treatment and did not receive neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. The chemotherapy was started with 175 mg/m2 dose ofpaclitaxel. Then, carboplatin calculated from AUC=6 was infused in one hour or 75 mg/m2 dose o f cisplatin was given with two-hour infusion. The treatment was administered with 21-day intervals. Toxicity was assessed according to the criteria established by the World Health Organization. Results: Paclitaxel and cisplatin combination was given to 186 patients and paclitaxel and carboplatin combination was administered to 284 patients. Grade 4 alopecia was not observed. Alopecia did not develop in one patient. Grade 3 alopecia was found in 431 patients (91.7%). Both chemotherapy combinations were similar interms of the severity and frequency of alopecia (p=0.722). Alopecia became remarkable as the cycles of chemotherapy advanced. Discussion: Alopecia with relation to paclitaxel and platinum chemotherapy combination observe in more than 90% of the patients at the end of the treatment. However, alopecia is reversible and improves after chemotherapy.