Successful olaparib desensitization using a novel one-day protocol

BACKGROUND: Olaparib is a revolutionary treatment for patients with ovarian and breast cancer. Currently, there is no established 1-day drug desensitization protocol for patients with olaparib type-1 hypersensitivity reactions despite well documented IgE-mediated adverse reactions occurring with olaparib. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 58-year-old female with immediate, reproducible IgE-mediated adverse reactions to olaparib tablets with implementation of a 1-day novel desensitization protocol to olaparib. Following desensitization, the patient was successfully transitioned from olaparib capsules to tablets with no loss of tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of successful olaparib desensitization using a novel 1-day desensitization protocol, and will contribute to drug allergy knowledge, in an area where robust data is lacking. This case demonstrates the important role for drug desensitization in patients with immediate hypersensitivity reactions to chemotherapeutic agents. Furthermore, as olaparib capsules are being phased out in favour of olaparib tablets, we provide a clear case that transitioning from capsule to tablet form did not cause a loss of tolerance.