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Allergy and Immunology Cancer Clinic
at Cancer Care Outpatient Building
6202 Harry Hines Blvd., 7th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75235 (Directions)
214-645-4673
Experts in the University Hospital Simmons Cancer Center Allergy and Immunology Clinic see cancer patients who develop allergic reactions to their chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or other cancer-related medications.
You may be referred to our clinic if:
- You had a reaction during a chemotherapy or immunotherapy infusion
- Your oncology team is concerned about restarting a drug after a prior reaction
- You have a known drug allergy that may complicate your cancer care
Our allergy and immunology specialists work directly with your oncology care team to:
- Evaluate what caused your reaction
- Determine whether you can safely continue your medication
- Guide you through a process called desensitization when appropriate
Our goal is to keep you on the treatment your oncologist believes is best for you. In many cases, we can confirm that a reaction was mild and manageable and help you continue without significant delay. In others, we use desensitization (see below) so you can continue taking the treatment safely.
Research from programs like ours has shown that expert allergy management can help patients continue effective treatment and achieve outcomes similar to those of patients who never had a reaction.
We are one of only a few teams in the United States that offer this level of integrated, allergy-focused care within a comprehensive cancer center.
What We Treat at the Allergy and Immunology Cancer Clinic
We evaluate and manage hypersensitivity and allergic reactions to a wide range of cancer-related drugs, including:
- Platinum-based chemotherapy, such as carboplatin, oxaliplatin, and cisplatin – among the most common causes of drug allergy in cancer patients
- Taxanes, including paclitaxel and docetaxel
- Monoclonal antibodies and immunotherapy agents, such as trastuzumab, pembrolizumab, and others
- Asparaginase, used in certain blood cancers and pediatric oncology
- Contrast media, used during imaging procedures related to cancer care
- Antibiotics and other supportive medications used during cancer treatment
Our Services at the Allergy and Immunology Cancer Clinic
Our team offers a full range of diagnostic and management services for oncology patients with drug hypersensitivity reactions:
- Allergy evaluation and reaction assessment: We review your reaction history, medical records, and current treatment plan to understand what happened and what your risk is going forward.
- Skin testing: For many chemotherapy agents, including platinum compounds and taxanes, we can perform skin testing when appropriate to help determine the type of reaction. Skin testing helps guide decisions about which drug and which protocol are right for you.
- Drug challenges: In patients with low-risk or uncertain reactions, a supervised drug challenge allows us to confirm tolerance in a monitored setting, often sparing patients from more complex protocols.
- Rapid drug desensitization (RDD): For patients who have had a confirmed or high-risk reaction to a drug their oncologist believes is essential, desensitization allows them to safely receive that medication. The drug is given in a carefully monitored setting, starting at very low doses and gradually increasing to the full therapeutic dose. This process has been used successfully in thousands of patients at leading cancer centers nationwide.
- Blood tests and laboratory evaluation: In some cases, we order blood tests and other laboratory studies to better understand why a reaction occurred, assess your overall risk, and guide the safest path forward for your treatment.
- Evaluation of other drug allergies: Many cancer patients have allergies listed in their medical records for antibiotics, pain medications, contrast dye, or other supportive drugs. We evaluate these allergies formally, using skin testing and supervised challenges when appropriate, to make sure nothing stands in the way of the care you need.
What to Expect at Your Appointment
Your first visit typically includes a review of your reaction history and medical records, a physical examination, and allergy testing when appropriate.
Based on this evaluation, we will provide a recommendation to your oncology team, which may include:
- Restarting your medication with a modified infusion protocol
- Proceeding with skin testing and/or a supervised drug challenge
- Undergoing desensitization in a monitored setting
- Identifying an alternative approach
To prepare for your appointment:
- Bring a complete list of all medications you are currently taking, including supplements and over-the-counter drugs.
- If available, bring any documentation of your reaction, such as infusion records, emergency department notes, or prior allergy test results.
- Let our team know in advance if you have had prior allergy testing or reactions to other medications.
- If your reaction was recent, do not take antihistamines (such as diphenhydramine or cetirizine) for at least five days before skin testing, unless directed otherwise.
The Only NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in North Texas
Simmons Cancer Center is the first and only medical center in North Texas to earn the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive designation.
This elite distinction, which is held by only about 50 cancer centers nationwide, recognizes innovative research and excellence in patient care. It is the gold standard for cancer programs.
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We have a wide range of clinical trials open to patients with all types and stages of cancer. Search for opportunities to participate in a cancer study.