Utility of Risk Stratification for Paclitaxel Hypersensitivity Reactions.

Background: Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) are a common impediment to paclitaxel therapy. Management strategies to guide care after a paclitaxel-induced HSR are needed.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the utility and safety of risk stratification on the basis of severity of the initial HSR.

Successful desensitization of two patients with ALK-positive lung cancer and hypersensitivity to crizotinib.

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor crizotinib is an effective therapy for patients with cancers harboring rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene. Here, we describe two patients with advanced ALK-positive lung cancer who developed hypersensitivity to crizotinib, requiring temporary discontinuation of the drug. Both patients were treated with a rapid oral desensitization protocol allowing them to resume crizotinib without further signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity.