Can a tiny pill reverse permanent baldness from chemo?
NCT ID NCT03831334
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early study tests whether a low-dose oral medication (minoxidil) can help regrow hair in people who have permanent hair loss after chemotherapy. Fourteen adults who finished chemo at least six months ago will take the pill and be checked every 12 weeks for hair regrowth and quality of life changes. The goal is to see if this simple treatment can ease a long-term side effect of cancer therapy.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
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14 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Apr 2019
- Expected to finish
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Aug 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with a clinical diagnosis of permanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia who completed chemotherapy ≥ 6 months from the date of registration. * Patients must be age ≥ 18 years. * Females of child-bearing potential (FOCBP) and males must agree to use adequate contraception (e.g., hormonal contraceptives such as birth control pills, patch, intrauterine device; barrier contraception such as male/female condoms, diaphragm; male partner with vasectomy; abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for 30 days following completion of therapy. Should a female patient become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. NOTE: A FOCBP is any woman (regardless of sexual orientation, having undergone a tubal ligation, or remaining celibate by choice) who meets the following criteria: Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy Has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months (and therefore has not been naturally postmenopausal for \> 12 months) * FOCBP must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to registration on study. * Patients must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent prior to registration in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients receiving any other investigational agents or using other alopecia treatments in the past 3 months are not eligible. * Patients currently undergoing systemic cancer treatment or within 6 months of finishing chemotherapy are not eligible. Note: Patients receiving hormone modulators are eligible. * Patients who have pheochromocytoma, hypothyroidism, anemia, cutaneous GVHD, hypotension, or a history of hypersensitivity to any components of the drug preparation are not eligible. * Patients who have other forms of alopecia besides PCIA (with the exception of female pattern Ludwig 1 alopecia) are not eligible. * Patients on oral or injectable anticoagulants are not eligible to participate in the optional punch biopsy * Patients who have an uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to any of the following, are not eligible: (Uncontrolled Hypertension, Ongoing or active infection requiring systemic treatment, Symptomatic congestive heart failure, Unstable angina pectoris, Cardiac arrhythmia, Pericardial effusion, Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements, Patients with any other illness or condition that the treating investigator feels would interfere with study compliance or would compromise the patient's safety or study endpoints.) * Patients currently taking guanethidine are not eligible. Patients may participate after a 1-week washout period. * Patients currently taking drugs that may enhance the hypotensive effect of minoxidil are not eligible. Please contact study team regarding specific drug as washout period, as this will vary. Note: This includes: Alfuzosin, Amifostine, antipsychotic agents, Atazanavir, barbiturates, Benperidol, Brimonidine, Dapoxetine, Diazoxide, DULoxetine, Levodopa, Lormetazepam, Molsidomine, Naftopidil, Nicergoline, Nicorandil, Nitroprusside, Obinutuzumab, Pentoxifylline, phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors, Probenecid, prostacyclin analogues, Quinagolide, and Valproate. If a patient is currently taking any of these drugs, further evaluation will be required to determine eligibility. * Female patients who are pregnant or nursing are not eligible. * Patients who have any condition or situation which, in the investigator's opinion, puts the patient at significant risk, could confound the study results, or may interfere significantly with the patient's participation in the study are not eligible. * Patients who are unable to communicate or cooperate with the investigator due to language problems, poor mental development, or impaired cerebral function are not eligible.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States