Pharmacoepidemiol Risk Manage.  2023 Sep;15(2):117-127. 10.56142/perm.23.0019.

Hypersensitivity Reactions to Antineoplastic Agents: Characteristics and Premedication Strategies

• Lee SY
• Kim HJ
• Jeong J
• Kang HR

• KMID: 2551228
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.56142/perm.23.0019

Abstract

All antineoplastic agents can potentially cause hypersensitivity reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions to antineoplastic agents may not provide patients with optimal treatment and may affect future survival. Hypersensitivity reactions to antineoplastic agents are classified by time of onset of symptoms. If it occurs within 1–6 hours, it is classified as an immediate hypersensitivity reaction, and after 1–6 hours as a delayed hypersensitivity reaction. Mechanisms that cause hypersensitivity reactions to antineoplastic agents differ from drug to drug, and management strategies that match those mechanisms must be used. Management of hypersensitivity reactions to antineoplastic agents includes culprit antineoplastic agent withdrawal, administration after premedication, and desensitization of culprit antineoplastic agent. A better understanding of these management strategies can provide the best antineoplastic agent therapy for patients. In addition to this, it can prevent events leading to death and developing severe reactions. Although there have been many reports on the hypersensitivity reactions of antineoplastic agents, there are very few literatures detailing the hypersensitivity characteristics of individual antineoplastic agents. The purpose of this review is to improve the understanding of the hypersensitivity reactions of individual antineoplastic agents and to reduce the incidence of hypersensitivity reactions by proposing a premedication method.

Keyword

Antineoplastic agents; Monoclonal antibodies; Hypersensitivity; Premedication; Desensitization