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Dr. Mohammadreza Dabiriفارسی
Clinical tool

CARG Score: Chemotherapy Toxicity Risk in Older Adults

Predicts grade 3–5 toxicity in patients aged 65 and over

Updated: 27 October 20261 min read3 references

Predicts the risk of grade 3 to 5 chemotherapy toxicity in patients aged 65 and over.

This calculator needs JavaScript; the formula and its interpretation are in the text of this page.

An aid for clinicians; it does not replace clinical judgement, local protocols or the drug label. Double-check every result before prescribing.

Development and validation

CARG was built from 500 patients aged 65 and over and predicted grade 3–5 toxicity better than Karnofsky performance status [1]; it held up in independent validation [2]. ASCO recommends geriatric assessment and a tool such as CARG or CRASH for all patients aged 65 and over receiving chemotherapy [3].

Creatinine clearance in CARG was calculated with the Jelliffe formula; for simplicity you can use the creatinine clearance calculator and tick the item if it is below 34.

What does a high score mean?

High risk does not mean withholding treatment; it means considering an initial dose reduction, a less intensive regimen, G-CSF, correcting modifiable problems (nutrition, medicines, falls) and closer follow-up [3].

References

3 references
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Numbers in the text, such as [1], refer to these sources. Sources with a “Study card” button are summarised in the site’s evidence library.

  1. 1
    Predicting chemotherapy toxicity in older adults with cancer: a prospective multicenter studyHurria A, Togawa K, Mohile SG, et al · J Clin Oncol · 2011;29:3457-65
    DOIPubMed Back to text
  2. 2
    Validation of a Prediction Tool for Chemotherapy Toxicity in Older Adults With CancerHurria A, Mohile S, Gajra A, et al · J Clin Oncol · 2016;34:2366-71
    DOIPubMed Back to text
  3. 3
    Practical Assessment and Management of Vulnerabilities in Older Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: ASCO Guideline for Geriatric OncologyMohile SG, Dale W, Somerfield MR, et al · J Clin Oncol · 2018;36:2326-2347
    DOIPubMed Back to text: 1 2

This page is based on reputable scientific sources and was last updated on 27 October 2026. The content of this website is for educational and informational purposes only and does not replace consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a specialist physician. Consult your treating physician about any treatment decision.

Printed from the website; the full and up-to-date version: https://drdabiri.com/en/tools/carg-toxicity-score/

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