Professional
Technical
IVT
therapeutic index
The ratio between a drug's effective dose and its toxic dose, indicating the safety margin of cancer treatments.
Full Definition
Therapeutic index represents the ratio between the dose that produces therapeutic effects and the dose that causes significant toxicity. In oncology, many chemotherapy agents have a narrow therapeutic index, meaning the difference between effective and toxic doses is small. This characteristic necessitates careful dose calculations, frequent monitoring, and individualized dosing strategies. Factors such as patient performance status, organ function, and prior treatments influence the therapeutic index and guide dosing decisions.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from therapeutic range, which refers to target drug concentrations.
In Context
- "Carboplatin has a more favorable therapeutic index compared to cisplatin." — treatment protocol
- "The narrow therapeutic index of this agent requires careful dose monitoring." — prescribing guideline
Also known as
therapeutic window
therapeutic ratio
Don't confuse with
therapeutic range
maximum tolerated dose