[Hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapeutic antineoplastic agents]

Hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapeutic antineoplastic agents represent a medical issue commonly considered of little importance. However, if in most courses of treatment the likelihood of an allergic reaction is very low, for some drugs, particularly L-asparaginase, taxans and platinum salts, the possible occurrence of hypersensitivity, not rarely clinically severe, with respiratory and cardiovascular involvement, may require the discontinuation of chemotherapy with obvious negative consequences for the patient. To prevent such event a number of measures are available, first represented by the change of the drug with similar molecules obtained by biotechnology (this is true for L-asparaginase), or with another agent of the same class, though with caution especially with platinum salts because the possibility of an allergic reaction cannot be excluded. Preventive protocols mainly based on high dose corticosteroids and antihistamines are also available and, concerning taxans and platinum salts, desensitization may be successfully managed.