A case of prolonged carboplatin therapy in a patient with carboplatin hypersensitivity.
OBJECTIVE
Platinum-containing chemotherapeutic drugs have high response rates yet are known to cause hypersensitivity reactions. Attempts have been made to rechallenge allergic patients with prolonged desensitization infusion regimens.


METHODS
A female with advanced peritoneal cancer went into remission after six cycles of paclitaxel/cisplatin. Her cancer recurred 17 months later and she was treated with paclitaxel/carboplatin. A hypersensitivity reaction to carboplatin occurred during the fourth cycle and further carboplatin was withheld. With the second recurrence carboplatin was resumed using a prolonged desensitization regimen. The patient had a third recurrence and has recently completed cycle 15 of carboplatin for a total of 56 cycles.


CONCLUSIONS
A carboplatin desensitization regimen may allow patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian or peritoneal cancer to continue to benefit from its efficacy.
Case Western Reserve University and the Ireland Cancer Center, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, MacDonald Women's Hospital, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Tara M
TM
McElroy
Vivian E von
VE
Gruenigen
Steven E
SE
Waggoner
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel