Decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rates in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with crizotinib

Crizotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, and there are uncertainties about its effect on kidney function. In this study, it was aimed to document the possible adverse effect of the drug on kidney functions.

The estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) of the patients were calculated by creatinine-based Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration and compared by months using the paired samples t-test. Kaplan-Meier survival method was used for progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) analysis.

Twenty-six patients who received crizotinib were included in the study, and the median progression-free survival time with crizotinib was 14.2 months and the median OS time was 27.4 months. There was a significant reduction of eGFR after the 1^st month of crizotinib treatment when compared to the rate before treatment initiation (P < 0.001). The eGFR values at the end of the 1^st month and the 2^nd month of treatment and the 2^nd and 3^rd months of treatment were statistically similar (P = 0.086, P = 0.663; respectively). This decrease in eGFR values was reversible, and there was no difference detected between pretreatment and posttreatment discontinuation (P = 0.100).

A reversible decrease in renal functions was detected in patients using crizotinib. When the literature data are examined, it is thought that the reason for this decrease may be related to the increase in renal inflammation or a pseudo decrease due to the decrease in creatinine excretion. When evaluating renal functions in these patients, using noncreatine-based (iothalamate, etc.) calculations can give more accurate results.