Carboplatin Dose Calculator (Calvert Formula)
Carboplatin dosing is based on the Calvert formula, which uses target AUC and kidney function instead of body surface area. Enter the target AUC from the treatment protocol and the patient's GFR to calculate the carboplatin dose in milligrams.
The Calvert formula is the standard method for dosing carboplatin:
Dose (mg) = Target AUC x (GFR + 25)
Unlike most chemotherapy agents dosed by body surface area, carboplatin is dosed by kidney function because it is primarily cleared renally. The AUC (area under the concentration-time curve) represents the total drug exposure, and the formula adjusts for each patient's ability to clear the drug.
Typical target AUC values by regimen:
- AUC 2: Weekly low-dose regimens
- AUC 4-5: Combination therapy (e.g., with paclitaxel for ovarian cancer)
- AUC 5-6: Single-agent therapy
- AUC 6-7: Dose-intensive regimens (e.g., testicular cancer)
FDA GFR cap at 125 mL/min: In 2010, the FDA recommended capping the GFR at 125 mL/min when calculating carboplatin doses. This was in response to reports of toxicity in patients whose GFR was overestimated by the Cockcroft-Gault or Jelliffe equations when used with newer, standardized (IDMS) creatinine assays. This calculator shows both the uncapped and capped dose.
GFR measurement: The Calvert formula was originally validated using Cr-51 EDTA clearance (a measured GFR, not estimated). In practice, most institutions use creatinine clearance estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation. Using eGFR from the CKD-EPI equation is generally not recommended for carboplatin dosing without institutional guidance.
This calculator is for educational purposes. Chemotherapy dosing requires verification by a pharmacist and oncologist.