Analysis of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer or fallopian tube carcinoma retreated with cisplatin after the development of a carboplatin allergy.

OBJECTIVE: We report the outcome of seven patients treated for recurrent ovarian cancer with cisplatin after an allergic reaction to carboplatin. One case is presented in which a heavily pretreated patient suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction, which was refractory to standard resuscitative measures and resulted in her death.
METHODS: Six further patients who received cisplatin after documentation of an allergic reaction to carboplatin (CBDCA) for the treatment of recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer between 1993 and 2000 were identified from the MSKCC database. Electronic medical records were reviewed for relevant treatment and outcome data.
RESULTS: Five of six of these patients were successfully treated without further allergic reactions. One patient with platinum-refractory disease had an allergic reaction to carboplatin and subsequently to cisplatin.
CONCLUSION: Few patients with a carboplatin allergy are subsequently treated with cisplatin at our center. One patient suffered a serious hypersensitivity reaction following retreatment and died. Based on this limited experience, cross allergy can exist although the true incidence is not known. Routine retreatment of carboplatin-allergic patients with cisplatin in the relapsed setting cannot be recommended without careful consideration of potential risks and benefits.