Hypersensitivity reactions to etoposide. A report of three cases and review of the literature.

Etoposide (VP 16) is an antineoplastic agent that has major activity against a number of tumors, including germ cell neoplasms, small cell lung cancer, and malignant lymphoma. It is a derivative of podophyllin, and acts by inhibiting mitosis. Common side effects include bone marrow suppression, alopecia, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Hypersensitivity reactions are uncommon however, and the underlying mechanism is unclear. We report three cases of etoposide hypersensitivity and review the literature.