Standardization and Scoring of the Body Surface Area (BSA) Formulas for Calculation of the Doses of Anticancer Agents for Cancer Patients from the North-Western Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Allometric scaling is an empirical examination of the relationship between the pharmacokinetic parameters and body size. Because of the importance of body surface area formulas for calculation of anticancer agents, there is need to standardize and score all the existing body surface area formulas with a view to obtaining the best and most efficient formula that can be adopted for use by our hospitals. Methods: A total of 33 (10.3%) out of 319 presented to the Haematology Department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria were diagnosed of Leukaemia and lymphoma. Cyclophosphamide, daunorubicin, vincristine, adriamyin and chlorambucil were used for the treatments. Eleven (11) of the affected 33 patients were randomly selected for calculation of their body surface areas using the formulas of DuBois, Boyd, Gehan and George, Haycock et al., Monsteller, Wang et al., Takashira and Fujimoto. The mean of the results obtained from each formula and for each individual was calculated and compared with all the results provided by the respective formulas and all the formulas scored. Results: Wang et al. recorded the highest score 21 (21.2%) followed by DuBois 20(20.2%), this paper 18 (18.2%), Monsteller 18 (18.2%), Haycock et al. 14 (14.2%), Boyd 13 (13.1%), Gehan and George 13(13.1%), Takashira 4 (4.0%) and Fujimoto 3 (3.0%). Conclusion: Wang et al. gives moderate effective anticancer doses and it is therefore recommended for the patients. It provides neither moderate doses of anticancer agents that may neither cause increased toxicity signs nor high risk of cancer remission.