Background The prevalence and risk factors of hypersensitivity reaction of in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer treated with platinum are controversial.

Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics and management of hypersensitivity reaction of carboplatin in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer and to determine its effects on prognoses.

Methods Patients with epithelial ovarian cancer between January 2013 and January 2016 were identified. Data were retrospectively collected by reviewing the medical records of a single tertiary teaching hospital. Patients’ demographic characteristics, symptoms, and treatment were described and compared between the hypersensitivity reaction and non-hypersensitivity reaction groups. The effects of hypersensitivity reaction on survival outcomes were analyzed in univariate and multivariate models.

Results A total of 860 patients were identified, including 76 (8.8%) patients with 86 incidents of hypersensitivity reaction in 5807 courses of chemotherapy. Of all patients with a first attack of hypersensitivity reaction, 79% were classified as grade 1–2. The most common symptoms were shortness of breath and tightness in the chest (70/76 cases, 92.1%). Subsequent management included chemotherapy suspension, switching to a non-platinum regimen, desensitization therapy, separated infusion of drugs, adherence to the original therapy, and switching to cisplatin. However, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with recurring hypersensitivity reaction among patients treated with different management methods (p=0.915). Disease relapse and chemotherapy courses ≥6 for primary epithelial ovarian cancer or ≥7 for recurrent disease were risk factors for platinum-based hypersensitivity reaction. There were no significant differences in median progression-free survival between the hypersensitivity reaction group and the non-hypersensitivity reaction group (p=0.144).

Conclusions Most patients with epithelial ovarian cancer with a carboplatin-induced hypersensitivity reaction had mild symptoms and favorable outcomes, and their progression-free survival was not influenced. Disease relapse and the number of courses of chemotherapy were risk factors for a hypersensitivity reaction.

Trial registration number NCT03291262.