Successful administration of carboplatin in patients with clinically documented carboplatin hypersensitivity.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to evaluate the tolerance and effectiveness of carboplatin rechallenge using a prolonged desensitizing carboplatin infusion regimen in patients with clinically documented moderate-severe carboplatin hypersensitivity.


METHODS
Patients admitted for carboplatin infusion were identified by computerized pharmacy records and retrospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
Thirty-three patients with recurrent ovarian (N = 27), peritoneal (N = 4), tubal (N = 1), and cervical (N = 1) cancer treated with a prolonged desensitizing carboplatin infusion regimen were identified. The patients had received a median of 10 courses of carboplatin (range 3-33) before developing the moderate-severe hypersensitivity reaction. Two hundred and fifteen courses (median 5, range 1-52) were administered. Twenty-nine patients (88%) were successfully rechallenged while four had a recurrent moderate-severe carboplatin hypersensitivity precluding further administration. Despite initial tolerance of the infusion schedule moderate-severe carboplatin hypersensitivity recurred in 3 additional patients (9%) after two, three, and six subsequent courses. Objective responses to therapy were seen in 22 of 28 evaluable patients (79%).


CONCLUSIONS
A prolonged desensitizing carboplatin infusion regimen is tolerated in the majority of patients with clinically documented moderate-severe carboplatin hypersensitivity. Objective response rates seem acceptable with this schedule.
Rose
Peter G
PG
Case Western Reserve University, Ireland Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. prose@metrohealth.org
Fusco
Nancy
N
Smrekar
Mary
M
Mossbruger
Kim
K
Rodriguez
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016190:Carboplatin