The Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) define adverse events following cancer therapy. It was designed for use in clinical trials of different therapeutic regimens.
Constitutional symptoms:
(1) fatigue (lethargy, malaise, asthenia)
(2) fever (in the absence of neutropenia, based on oral or tympanic membrane measurements)
(3) rigors and chills
(4) sweating (diaphoresis)
(5) weight gain
(6) weight gain associated with veno-occlusive disease (VOD) in bone marrow transplant studies
(7) weight loss
(8) other constitutional syndrome
NOTES:
(1) Hot flashes or flushes are graded under endocrine conditions.
(2) Weight gain needs to consider ascites, edema, nonmalignant pleural effusions, and other conditions with excess body water.
(3) Weight loss needs to consider vomiting, dehydration, diarrhea and other conditions due to loss of body water.
(4) There is not a grade for hypothermia.
Parameter |
Finding |
Grade |
fatigue |
none |
0 |
|
increased over baseline but does not limit normal activities |
1 |
|
moderate (decrease in performance status by 1 ECOG level or 20% Karnofsky or Lansky; OR causes difficulty performing some activities |
2 |
|
severe (decrease in performance status by >= 2 ECOG levels or 40% Karnofsky or Lansky; loss of ability to perform some activities |
3 |
|
bedridden or disabling |
4 |
fever |
none |
0 |
|
38 to 39°C |
1 |
|
39.1 to 40°C |
2 |
|
> 40°C for <= 24 hours |
3 |
|
> 40°C for > 24 hours |
4 |
rigors, chills |
none |
0 |
|
mild but require symptomatic treatment (blanket, non-narcotic medication) |
1 |
|
severe and/or prolonged, responsive to narcotic medication |
2 |
|
severe and/or prolonged, not responding to narcotic medication |
3 |
sweating |
normal |
0 |
|
mild and occasional |
1 |
|
frequent or drenching |
2 |
weight gain |
< 5% |
0 |
|
5 to < 10% |
1 |
|
10% to < 20% |
2 |
|
>= 20% |
3 |
weight gain (VOD) |
< 2% |
0 |
|
2 to < 5% |
1 |
|
5 to < 10% |
2 |
|
>= 10% with ascites |
3 |
|
>= 10% with pulmonary edema and respiratory failure |
4 |
weight loss |
< 5% |
0 |
|
5 to < 10% |
1 |
|
10% to < 20% |
2 |
|
>= 20% |
3 |
other |
none |
0 |
|
mild |
1 |
|
moderate |
2 |
|
severe |
3 |
|
life-threatening or disabling |
4 |
Specialty: Hematology Oncology