Disruption of microtubules with low intensity ultrasound rescues hair follicle damage by paclitaxel in mouse models.

Abstract

Paclitaxel exemplifies one of the key taxanes, a group of versatile and effective drugs commonly used in chemotherapy for several major cancer types. These drugs work by stabilizing cellular microtubules, a unique mechanism to account for their impressive success in oncology. Hair loss (alopecia) is a well-known adverse side effect and poses a significant quality of life issue for many patients. We discovered that a brief exposure to low intensity and low frequency ultrasound at a defined timing was able to break cellular microtubules and mitotic spindles transiently, and thus annulled the consequent hair follicle damage and suppression of hair growth following paclitaxel administrations. These experimental findings herald a practical method that is within reach to prevent hair loss in cancer chemotherapy using taxanes.