Abstract:
Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is one of the most distressing side effects of cancer treatment. It affects not only physical appearance but also patients’ confidence and emotional well-being. My deep emotional reaction to seeing cancer patients suffer from hair loss inspired me to explore a scientific solution. Hair loss during chemotherapy isn’t merely a cosmetic issue; it often impacts the patient's identity and morale.
This led me to propose a preventive solution — a temporary “follicular vaccine” to induce dormancy in hair follicles before chemotherapy. Hair follicles naturally cycle through three stages: anagen (active growth), catagen (regression), and telogen (rest). Since chemotherapeutic agents primarily target rapidly dividing cells, follicles in the anagen phase are especially vulnerable. However, if follicles can be shifted into the telogen phase before treatment, they may escape the damaging effects of chemotherapy.
My approach involves targeting two key signaling pathways: Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) and Fibroblast Growth Factor 18 (FGF18), both known to promote telogen entry and maintain follicular quiescence. The vaccine would stimulate these pathways in a controlled, reversible manner to temporarily “pause” follicular activity. Once chemotherapy is complete, the follicles would resume their normal cycle and hair growth would return naturally.
This concept has the potential to significantly improve quality of life for cancer patients, preserving their appearance and self-image throughout treatment. The next steps include preclinical trials to evaluate safety and efficacy and designing a suitable delivery method for clinical application.
