Hypersensitivity reactions to anticancer drugs include treatment-limiting toxicity. Standard drug desensitisation offers temporary tolerance and hence requires repetition. We used omalizumab, an anti-immunoglobulin E antibody, to overcome immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions to various anticancer drugs. Seven of the eight patients in the current study successfully resumed the desired anticancer drug regimen without standard desensitisation. No safety issues from omalizumab were observed.
Keywords: allergy; cancer drugs; desensitisation; omalizumab.
© 2024 The Author(s). Internal Medicine Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Royal Australasian College of Physicians.