Study of Omalizumab as Adjuvant Therapy in Chemotherapy Desensitization

Inclusion Criteria

• •Participants must meet all of the following criteria on screening examination to be eligible to participate in the study:
• •Patients with type I hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapy agents including, but not exclusive to, platins, taxanes, or monoclonal agents as evidenced by typical IgE-mediated symptoms (ie. flushing, hives, dyspnea, wheezing, nausea, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, hypotension, angioedema)
• •For various reasons, some, but not all, patients enrolled in the desensitization program may have positive skin test data to confirm an IgE-mediated reaction.
• •--These reasons include
• •* 1\) cutaneous toxicity of the drug precludes testing
• •* 2\) limited sensitivity of skin testing depending on the drug being tested with
• •* 3\) lack of adequate testing reagent and controls.
• •Patients with breakthrough reactions requiring multiple desensitization interventions including 16 step protocols and intervention with additional antihistamine (requiring \>50mg IV diphenhydramine or po hydroxyzine; OR \>10mg cetirizine or loratadine)
• •All cancer patients receiving chemotherapy agents, ages 18 and over.
• •A positive skin test to the allergy-inducing agent or elevated tryptase level in the setting of infusion reaction.
• •Clinical indication for additional doses of the chemotherapy as determined by the patient's oncologist.
• •Patients stable enough to undergo chemotherapy as determined by the patient's oncologist.
• •Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.- We expect the majority of study patients to be women with ovarian cancer as this patient population frequently receives platin therapy with paclitaxel as first line therapy. This patient population also is at highest risk of developing hypersensitivity reactions to platin-based agents since these patients often receive multiple rounds of chemotherapy.