Home About Products ProDermaCel™ DermX OralX Research Markets Contact News Publications	ProDermaCel™, a topically applied pharmaceutical, will protect normal hair follicle stem cells to prevent the loss of hair (alopecia) suffered by cancer and bone marrow transplant patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or cranial radiotherapy. Because the follicular stem cells responsible for hair shaft growth have high mitotic rates and divide rapidly, they are often damaged or destroyed by chemotherapeutic drugs or radiotherapy. As the follicular stem cells undergo apoptosis, the base of the hair shaft, which is no longer being actively formed, becomes fragile and breaks as the result of mechanical stress from brushing or combing. Most patients shave their heads once alopecia begins. Two recent "quality of life" studies (Carelle et al., Cancer 95:155-163, 2002; McGarvey et al., Cancer Pract. 9:283-289, 2001) indicated that out of 72 scored side effects from cancer therapy, alopecia ranked first-second in both studies. There are currently no products to prevent or treat this alopecia. Product Specifications: ProDermaCel™ is formulated as a clear, colorless, odorless liquid that rapidly penetrates the skin, leaving no residue. Animal model experiments (see insert) have shown complete retention of the coat in skin patches treated with ProDermaCel shortly before systemic chemotherapy or whole-body irradiation.