Exploring Body Surface Area Measurement in Chemotherapy Dosing
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring Body Surface Area Measurement in Chemotherapy Dosing
IRAS ID
321419
Contact name
Neil Masters
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Hallam University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 27 days
Research summary
Within traditional chemotherapy treatment, estimations of a patient’s body surface area (BSA) are used (in combination with other measures) to determine dosage. Body surface area is currently not measured directly, instead it is calculated according to simple regressions equations (which use the height, and weight of the patient). These equations are based on data captured several decades ago and have limited validity – particularly with modern populations that tend towards higher BMI values.
For individuals that are of atypical body size and shape, the quality of BSA prediction decreases, with inaccuracies currently accepted due to the difficulty in measuring BSA directly using manual tools. This uncertainty associated with BSA prediction, decreases the confidence of practitioners when determining chemotherapy dosages – particularly with regards to the risk of over-dosing and consequent excess toxicity, or under-dosing leaving patients at risk of reduced anticancer effect from their treatment. However, 3D imaging technology can make accurate measures of the body both quickly and easily. The Morphology Research Group at Sheffield Hallam University have developed more sophisticated methods for assessing complex features of human body shape, which significantly improve the performance of anthropometric predictive models.
We propose that the use of advanced body measurement techniques can provide practitioners with tools for prescribing chemotherapy dosages that are valid for individuals, regardless of their body type, reduce incidences of incorrect dosing and its effects, leading to better long-term outcomes of treatment. We plan to perform a pilot-study with patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer in Sheffield to determine; the potential degree of error in chemotherapy dose prescription for people with atypical body types and composition, and how alterations in prescribed chemotherapy dosages relate to errors in body surface area estimates to inform the future development of improved measurement and dose prescription.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/YH/0012
Date of REC Opinion
21 Feb 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion