Onco-nephrology: glomerular diseases with cancer

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Glomerular diseases associated with malignancies are uncommon, presenting diverse lesions and complex pathophysiologic links to cancer.
• While solid tumor-associated glomerulopathies have unclear pathophysiology, hematologic malignancy-induced paraneoplastic glomerulopathies often show a demonstrable molecular link.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an updated review of glomerular diseases associated with both carcinoma and hematologic malignancies.
• To cover epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and therapeutic strategies for these rare conditions.
• To emphasize novel diagnostic biomarkers and recent entities in cancer-associated glomerulopathy.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of current research on malignancies and glomerular diseases.
• Analysis of epidemiological data, pathophysiologic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and treatment options.
• Focus on emerging biomarkers like antiphospholipase A2 receptor antibodies and new disease associations.

Main Results:

• Diverse glomerular lesions are observed in various neoplasms, with varying pathophysiologic links.
• Solid tumor-associated glomerulopathies have obscure mechanisms, unlike paraneoplastic glomerulopathies linked to hematologic malignancies.
• Novel biomarkers and new entities like proliferative glomerulonephritis with nonorganized monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits and myeloproliferative neoplasm-related glomerulopathy are highlighted.

Conclusions:

• Glomerular diseases in malignancy patients require careful evaluation due to diverse presentations and links.
• Advances in understanding biomarkers and specific entities are crucial for improved diagnosis and management.
• Further research into the pathophysiology of solid tumor-associated glomerulopathies is warranted.