Allergy history, previous exposure predict oxaliplatin hypersensitivity reactions

A history of allergy, previous oxaliplatin exposure, and chemotherapy regimens are associated with a higher risk of oxaliplatin hypersensitivity reactions in patients with colorectal cancer, reveals a study.

Overall, 280 patients who developed oxaliplatin hypersensitivity reactions and 476 who did not were included in this retrospective study.

In logistic regression analysis, a history of allergy (odds ratio [OR], 2.232, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.209‒4.119; p=0.010), previous oxaliplatin exposure (OR, 8.081, 95 percent CI, 3.024‒21.593; p<0.001), and chemotherapy regimen (OR, 2.148, 95 percent CI, 1.411‒3.271; p<0.001) correlated with an increased likelihood of developing oxaliplatin hypersensitivity reactions.

These reactions averaged 7.29 cycles, with a mean cumulative dose of 589.53 mg. The most common was grade 2 oxaliplatin hypersensitivity reactions (n=197, 70.4 percent), followed by grade 3 reactions (n=68, 24.3 percent) and grade 4 reactions (n=9, 3.2 percent).

Itching was the most common symptom of these reactions (n=211, 75.4 percent), followed by facial flushing (n=133, 47.5 percent) and chest discomfort (n=77, 27.5 percent).

“Healthcare providers should be aware of the risk factors for oxaliplatin hypersensitivity reactions and carefully monitor patients receiving oxaliplatin,” the researchers said.

“Oxaliplatin is an anticancer drug used primarily for cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, and oxaliplatin hypersensitivity reaction is a rare but serious side effect,” they noted.