title: Successful desensitization of two patients with ALK-positive lung cancer and hypersensitivity to crizotinib.
abstract: The tyrosine kinase inhibitor crizotinib is an effective therapy for patients with cancers harboring rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene. Here, we describe two patients with advanced ALK-positive lung cancer who developed hypersensitivity to crizotinib, requiring temporary discontinuation of the drug. Both patients were treated with a rapid oral desensitization protocol allowing them to resume crizotinib without further signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Medical Oncology; and †Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology; Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Mark M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.forename: Timothy P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Lax
authors.forename: Benjamin R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Slawski
authors.forename: Alice T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000077547:Crizotinib; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D000077547:Crizotinib