Skip to main content

Unexpected toxicity associated with use of body surface area for dosing melphalan in the dog.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Page, RL; Macy, DW; Thrall, DE; Dewhirst, MW; Allen, SL; Heidner, GL; Sim, DA; McGee, ML; Gillette, EL
Published in: Cancer Res
January 15, 1988

A multiinstitutional Phase I study using i.v. melphalan was conducted in dogs with spontaneously occurring neoplasia. Melphalan was administered at 7.5, 10, 11.25, 12.5, and 20 mg/m2 of body surface area. Disproportionately greater toxicity was observed in small dogs. Seven of the eight dogs (88%) weighing less than 14 kg experienced severe myelosuppression (neutropenia, less than 1500/mm3; and/or thrombocytopenia, less than 80,000/mm3), whereas only three of 13 dogs (23%) weighing greater than 14 kg developed severe myelosuppression (P = 0.016). We concluded that small dogs are at greater risk of developing bone marrow toxicity from i.v. melphalan than large dogs if body surface area is used to calculate the dose. Although both body surface area and weight were found to be significantly correlated with severity of toxicity, melphalan-induced toxicity in dogs can be more accurately estimated by body weight than by surface area, P = 0.008 versus P = 0.022, respectively. It may be necessary to prescribe antineoplastic agents that are eliminated by processes not primarily under metabolic influence or that produce side effects on tissue not correlated to basal metabolic rate on a parameter other than body surface area. In dogs, melphalan should be dosed on a weight basis, and treatment groups should be stratified by weight in randomized clinical studies, particularly when the weight range of treated subjects is great.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Cancer Res

ISSN

0008-5472

Publication Date

January 15, 1988

Volume

48

Issue

2

Start / End Page

288 / 290

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Regression Analysis
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Neoplasms
  • Melphalan
  • Male
  • Female
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Dogs
  • Dog Diseases
  • Bone Marrow
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Page, R. L., Macy, D. W., Thrall, D. E., Dewhirst, M. W., Allen, S. L., Heidner, G. L., … Gillette, E. L. (1988). Unexpected toxicity associated with use of body surface area for dosing melphalan in the dog. Cancer Res, 48(2), 288–290.
Page, R. L., D. W. Macy, D. E. Thrall, M. W. Dewhirst, S. L. Allen, G. L. Heidner, D. A. Sim, M. L. McGee, and E. L. Gillette. “Unexpected toxicity associated with use of body surface area for dosing melphalan in the dog.Cancer Res 48, no. 2 (January 15, 1988): 288–90.
Page RL, Macy DW, Thrall DE, Dewhirst MW, Allen SL, Heidner GL, et al. Unexpected toxicity associated with use of body surface area for dosing melphalan in the dog. Cancer Res. 1988 Jan 15;48(2):288–90.
Page, R. L., et al. “Unexpected toxicity associated with use of body surface area for dosing melphalan in the dog.Cancer Res, vol. 48, no. 2, Jan. 1988, pp. 288–90.
Page RL, Macy DW, Thrall DE, Dewhirst MW, Allen SL, Heidner GL, Sim DA, McGee ML, Gillette EL. Unexpected toxicity associated with use of body surface area for dosing melphalan in the dog. Cancer Res. 1988 Jan 15;48(2):288–290.

Published In

Cancer Res

ISSN

0008-5472

Publication Date

January 15, 1988

Volume

48

Issue

2

Start / End Page

288 / 290

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Regression Analysis
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Neoplasms
  • Melphalan
  • Male
  • Female
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Dogs
  • Dog Diseases
  • Bone Marrow