Onconephrology: Update in Anticancer Drug-Related Nephrotoxicity

Clara García-Carro1, Juliana Draibe2, María José Soler3

  • 1Nephrology Department, San Carlos Clinical University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.

Nephron
|June 19, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy can cause kidney damage, impacting patient quality of life. This review details oncotreatment-induced kidney injury and offers management strategies for cancer patients with kidney disease.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Nephrology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The relationship between cancer and kidney damage is bidirectional, negatively impacting patient outcomes.
  • Advancements in cancer therapy have transformed metastatic cancer into a chronic condition, increasing patient survival.
  • Modern cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, targeted agents, and immunotherapies, are frequently linked to kidney injury.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the nephrotoxicity associated with major oncospecific treatments.
  • To provide practical insights into the prevention and management of kidney disease in cancer patients.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on onconephrology.
  • Analysis of nephrotoxicity from classical chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies.
  • Synthesis of current strategies for prevention and management.

Main Results:

  • Newer cancer therapies, particularly immunotherapies, contribute significantly to renal toxicity.
  • Prolonged survival and combination drug regimens increase the incidence of kidney injury.
  • Oncologic treatments pose a substantial risk of kidney damage in cancer patients.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding and managing treatment-related kidney injury is crucial in modern cancer care.
  • Proactive strategies for prevention and management are essential for improving outcomes in patients with malignancies and kidney disease.
  • This review offers practical guidance for clinicians managing onconephrology patients.

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