On what basis are most antineoplastic agents dosed?

Most antineoplastic agents are dosed based on body surface area (BSA). This method of dosing takes into account the patient's metabolic rate and the distribution of the drug within the body, leading to more effective and safer management of chemotherapy treatment. BSA provides a more accurate estimation of the appropriate dose than body weight alone, as it reflects the patient’s overall size and allows for more precise calculations, especially in cases where patients may be underweight or overweight.

Dosing based on BSA is particularly important in cancer therapy because antineoplastic agents can have narrow therapeutic indices and significant toxicity levels; precise dosing helps to maximize efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. Additionally, considering factors like age and height can be relevant in specific contexts, but they do not provide the same level of precision and efficacy in dosing as BSA does.

Hence, the widespread practice in oncology of using BSA for dosing antineoplastic agents underscores its importance for optimizing patient outcomes in cancer treatment.