carboplatin auc calculator

How this carboplatin AUC calculator works

Carboplatin is often dosed using exposure-based dosing rather than simple mg/m² dosing. The standard approach is the Calvert formula, which targets a planned area under the concentration-time curve (AUC):

In this equation, GFR is the patient’s renal function in mL/min, and the “+25” term approximates non-renal carboplatin clearance. If measured GFR is unavailable, many clinics estimate renal function using Cockcroft-Gault creatinine clearance.

Inputs explained

1) Target AUC

The target AUC is protocol-specific and depends on disease site, treatment intent, and combination therapy. Enter the value prescribed by the oncology team.

2) Measured GFR (preferred when available)

If a nuclear medicine GFR (or another measured method approved by your institution) is available, enter it directly. The calculator will prioritize measured renal function over estimated values.

3) Estimated renal function (fallback method)

If measured GFR is not entered, this tool estimates creatinine clearance using Cockcroft-Gault:

You can choose serum creatinine units (mg/dL or µmol/L). The calculator automatically converts µmol/L to mg/dL.

Clinical safeguards included

• Optional GFR cap at 125 mL/min: commonly used in many protocols to reduce overdosing risk at high estimated renal function.
• Optional SCr floor of 0.7 mg/dL: sometimes applied to avoid unrealistically high CrCl estimates when serum creatinine is very low.
• Transparent output: result includes the exact renal function used and whether adjustments were applied.

Worked example

Suppose target AUC = 5 and renal function used in dosing = 80 mL/min:

The estimated carboplatin dose is 525 mg for that cycle, subject to protocol and clinician verification.

Important limitations

• Not validated for every clinical edge case (e.g., dialysis, rapidly changing kidney function).
• Weight selection method (actual, adjusted, ideal) may vary by institution.
• Lab timing, assay variability, and hydration status can influence serum creatinine and dose estimates.
• Protocol-specific modifications may supersede formula-only calculations.

Quick FAQ

Should I use measured GFR or estimated CrCl?

When available and protocol-approved, measured GFR is generally preferred for carboplatin dosing accuracy.

Why does this calculator include a GFR cap?

Many oncology regimens cap renal function (often at 125 mL/min) to reduce risk of excessive dosing at high estimates.

Is the result a prescription?

No. It is a calculated estimate that requires clinician review, regimen context, and safety checks.