Paclitaxel/Platinum combination regimen and alopecia

Abstract

SUMMARY 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 of toxicity belonging to 470 patients who underwent surgery in the period from 1993 to 2006 because of epithelial ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, primary peritoneal papillary serous tumor or advanced stage endometrial cancer and were given 6 cycles of paclitaxel and platinum chemotherapy as first line treatment and did not receive neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. The chemotherapy was started with 175 mg/m2 dose of paclitaxel. Then, carboplatin calculated from AUC=6 was infused in one hour or 75 mg/m2 dose of 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 in terms 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.