Success of Platinum Desensitization 'Depends on the Agent' (gyn/GI focus)

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" Reactions were deemed severe if they were life-threatening or the patient experienced chest pain, dyspnea, hypotension (≤90 mmHg systolic blood pressure), or severe hypertension (≥180 mmHg systolic blood pressure)."

BARCELONA, Spain ― Cancer patients receiving platinum therapy desensitization are more likely to experience hypersensitivity reactions with oxaliplatin (Eloxatin, sanofi-aventis) than with carboplatin (Paraplatin, Corden Pharma International), although the period during which patients are at risk for a hypersensitivity reaction is shorter with carboplatin, US researchers said here at the 17th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (WCGC).
Lead author Katrina Pedersen, MD, hematology/oncology fellow at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, says this indicates that there may be a "low-risk" population that could be transitioned to more rapid desensitization or outpatient therapy.
Platinum agents, which are commonly used in chemotherapeutic regimens for numerous gastrointestinal and gynecologic malignancies, have been known to cause hypersensitivity reactions in up to 20% of patients. Consequently, several desensitization protocols have been developed......