Evaluation of a method for calculating carboplatin dosage in DeVIC ± R therapy (combination therapy of dexamethasone, etoposide, ifosfamide and carboplatin with or without rituximab) as a salvage therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma

PURPOSE: Several studies have evaluated the utility of extrapolating the Calvert formula in calculating carboplatin (CBDCA) dosages in solid tumours; however, data regarding haematological cancers are less. Therefore, we conducted a preliminary study of the utility of extrapolating the Calvert formula in calculating CBDCA dosages for DeVIC ± R therapy. METHODS: A retrospective study on 57 non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients who had received DeVIC ± R therapy was conducted. The area under the curve (AUC) of CBDCA was back-calculated from actual dosages using the Calvert formula. Patients were divided into two groups according to an AUC ≥ 4 or an AUC < 4, respectively. The Revised Response Criteria of the International Working Group and CTCAE version 4.0 were used for assessing the treatment efficacy and adverse events, respectively. RESULTS: The use of AUC instead of body surface area had greater utility in calculating CBDCA dosage, with a response rate of greater than 50 % in patients receiving DeVIC ± R therapy with an AUC ≥ 4 for CBDCA. The response rate of the AUC ≥ 4 group was significantly higher than that of the AUC < 4 group. Decreased platelet and neutrophil counts of grade ≥3 occurred at higher rates in the AUC ≥ 4 group. CONCLUSION: The extrapolation of the Calvert formula has utility in calculating the CBDCA dosage for DeVIC ± R therapy, and therapeutic efficacy was increased by maintaining the AUC of CBDCA at ≥4.