dose-limiting toxicity
Also written as: DLT — dose-limiting toxicity
The adverse effects that prevent further dose escalation in cancer treatment, typically defined in clinical trials to establish maximum tolerated doses.
Full Definition
Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) refers to adverse effects of cancer treatment that are severe enough to prevent further dose increases during clinical trials or require dose reduction in clinical practice. DLTs are typically defined as grade 3 or 4 toxicities according to standardized criteria such as the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). In phase I clinical trials, DLT identification is crucial for determining the maximum tolerated dose and recommended phase II dose. Common DLTs include severe neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, hepatotoxicity, and organ-specific toxicities depending on the therapeutic agent.
Usage
Usage note: Often abbreviated as DLT in clinical trial contexts; hyphenate when used as compound adjective.
In Context
- "Two patients experienced dose-limiting toxicity requiring dose reduction in the phase I trial." — Clinical trial report
- "The protocol defined dose-limiting toxicity as any grade 4 hematologic toxicity lasting more than seven days." — Study protocol