Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.
2009 Jun;29(2):127-131.
Successful Desensitization to Epirubicin in a Breast Cancer Patient with Doxorubicin Hypersensitivity
Abstract
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Doxorubicin, a chemotherapeutic agent of the anthracycline family, has commonly been used to treat a wide range of cancers including leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and cancers of the breast, uterus, ovary and bladder. Hypersensitivity is a rare adverse reaction to anthracyclines including daunorubicin, idarubicin and epirubicin. Although cross-reactivity among chemotherapeutic agents of the anthracycline family is not completely established, these agents are not clinically recommended if a patient has show hypersensitivity reaction to any anthracyclines. Desensitization is an alternative treatment option to overcome hypersensitivity reaction to anthracyclines, but cases of anthracycline desensitization have rarely been reported till now. We report successful epirubucin desensitization in a breast cancer patient with doxorubicin hypersensitivity.