Initial experience with a novel desensitization strategy for carboplatin-associated hypersensitivity reactions: carboplatin-hypersensitivity reactions.

PURPOSE: Carboplatin hypersensitivity is an increasingly recognized toxicity in individuals receiving >6 cumulative courses of this important antineoplastic agent. We wished to determine if a novel multi-pronged approach to re-treating patients with a high risk for this potentially serious side effect could permit the safe delivery of this class of cytotoxic drugs.

METHODS: Five patients with gynecologic malignancies who had either experienced a documented carboplatin hypersensitivity reaction ( n =4) or had a "positive" carboplatin skin test ( n =1), received a multi-drug oral regimen administered over several days which was designed to block known mediators of anaphylaxis. Four of these individuals subsequently underwent treatment with either cisplatin or carboplatin employing a "dose escalation" desensitization schema.

RESULTS: Four patients underwent successful treatment with either cisplatin or carboplatin (3, 4, 5, 6+ total additional courses) without any further evidence of hypersensitivity.

CONCLUSION: In this preliminary report of a limited patient population, we have demonstrated the ability to safely deliver a platinum agent to individuals with either documented carboplatin hypersensitivity, or a high risk for this potentially serious toxicity of carboplatin. Further exploration of this novel management strategy in a larger group of patients is indicated.