Home > Its A Funny World
Side effect from new cancer drug causes patients’ grey hair to turn brown
July 23rd, 2017 | 12:33 PM | 
2031 views
METRO
Doctors were left scratching their heads after a surprising side effect from a new cancer drug caused patients’ grey hair to turn brown. While some cancer therapy is notorious for making hair fall out, the 14 patients involved in this study were all being treated with new immunotherapy drugs. For patients with lung cancer, some in their 70s, Spanish researchers found the drugs had wholly different side effects – they were bizarrely restoring hair pigment. When the first patient’s grey hair turned brown, Dr. Noelia Rivera, a dermatologist at Autonomous University of Barcelona, thought it must just be an ‘isolated case’. But the doctor soon found similar shock results when she asked other patients to send photos in from before their treatment. The 14 cases were among 52 lung cancer patients being followed to see whether they developed bad side effects from the drugs – Keytruda, Opdivo and Tecentriq. While most patients’ hair did not change colour, the 14 cases suggest it was not an isolated finding. In 13 patients, hair turned darkish brown or black, while one patient’s hair went black in patches. In another odd twist, the same drugs have previously been linked to patients with melanoma cancer actually losing their hair. All but one of the 14 patients in the Spanish study had at least stable disease and responded positively to the treatment. This suggests that hair darkening could potentially be an indication that the drugs are working, the researchers said. Dr. Rivera said they are continuing the search to find an explanation and to see if the cases were purely a fluke. ‘It’s a fascinating report – one of those things that comes out of the blue,’ said Dr. June Robinson, a Northwestern University research professor in dermatology. Dr. Robinson is also editor of the medical journal JAMA Dermatology, which published the study online this month. She said the results deserve more attention but fears it may be too soon to suggest it could lead to new treatments for grey hair. Dr. Rivera noted that the study drugs have other, more serious side effects which make them unsafe for healthy people. But if it’s confirmed that they do change hair colour, a different drug could be developed to treat grey hair, she said.
Source:
courtesy of METRO
by Metro News Reporter for Metro.co.uk
If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]
Today |
325717 |
Since March 25, 2016
© Copyright 1999 - 2024 | Brunei's No. 1 News Website. All Rights Reserved.
1250-A, Jalan Tanjung Bunut,Jalan Tutong BF2920, Bandar Seri Begawan, Negara Brunei Darussalam
Home
