Hypersensitivity reactions to platinum salts (PS) (cisplatin [CI], carboplatin [CA], and oxaliplatin [OX]) can be severe and their incidence is increasing due to their widespread use in cancer treatment.

To determine the rate of cross-reactivity between PS and whether CI can be administered without prior allergy testing in patients with a history of CA or OX hypersensitivity.

From September 2002 to April 2016, patients with suspected immediate PS hypersensitivity were tested and cross-reactivity between the 3 PS was evaluated. We then studied patients who were given CI without desensitization after immediate hypersensitivity to other PS.

A total of 155 patients were included. Skin tests were positive in 97 patients (OX: 51, CA: 43, and CI: 3). Cross-reactivity to CA in OX-allergic patients was 45% (23 of 51) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 36% to 66%) and cross-reactivity to OX in CA-allergic patients was 37% (16 of 43) (95% CI: 23% to 53%). In contrast, cross-reactivity to CI was 0% (0 of 51) (95% CI: 0% to 7%) in OX-allergic patients and 7% (3 of 43) (95% CI: 2% to 17%) in CA-allergic patients. All these 3 patients had previously been exposed to CI in previous courses of chemotherapy. CI was initiated in 24 patients with proven hypersensitivity to CA or OX and had no hypersensitivity reactions.

Initiating CI in patients with proven immediate hypersensitivity to CA or OX appeared to be safe in our study.