Readministration of Platinum Agents in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Patients Who Developed Hypersensitivity Reactions to Carboplatin

Abstract

Background/aim: Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to carboplatin, a key drug for ovarian cancer patients, are problematic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of readministration of platinum agents (PTs) in recurrent ovarian cancer patients who developed HSRs to carboplatin.

Patients and methods: Thirty-one patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who developed HSRs to carboplatin were divided into those who continued to receive PTs in the following cycle (continuation group, n=24) and those in whom either the drug was switched to non-platinum agents (non-PTs) or chemotherapy was ended (discontinuation group, n=7). Outcomes were evaluated based on patients' medical records.

Results: The median survival time following HSRs was 28.1 and 15.4 months in the continuation and discontinuation groups, respectively (p=0.018). In the continuation group, a total of 155 cycles of PTs were re-administrated, and 50 cycles (32%) led to recurrent HSRs. There were no recurrent HSRs with a severity of grade 3 or greater.

Conclusion: Continuation of PTs in ovarian cancer patients may contribute to improvement in their overall survival without severe recurrent HSRs.

Keywords: Carboplatin; hypersensitivity reactions; ovarian cancer; overall survival; rechallenge.