Immunotherapies and Renal Injury

Cancer immunotherapy represents a giant leap forward in the management of malignant diseases. An optimal anti-tumor immune response requires cancer antigen recognition by T-cells followed by an effector immune response. Suppression of T-cell activation prevents cancer cell clearance resulting in tumor proliferation. Recent clinical successes of immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies has transformed the landscape of cancer immunotherapy. The goal of immunotherapy is to boost host-protective anti-tumor immunity without concomitantly causing immune-related adverse events. However, immunotherapies can cause multiorgan dysfunction including acute kidney injury. Prompt recognition and management of immunotherapy-associated kidney injury is critical in preserving kidney function and improving patient outcomes.