Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Immune-Related Adverse Renal Events

Abstract

Renal toxicities have been increasingly recognized as complications of the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Recent studies have outlined the incidence and potential risk factors for nephrotoxicity. For clinicians, the key question is how to manage patients who develop these adverse renal effects. This is of paramount importance to providers as ICI use for cancer therapy becomes more widespread and nephrotoxicity increasingly develops. As clinicians encounter ICI-associated nephrotoxicity, an appropriate approach to management is required to facilitate the best outcomes in patients with cancer. Importantly, ICI rechallenge in patients who developed ICI-related acute kidney injury (AKI) is unclear and represents a conundrum for providers. Clinicians struggle with the “if, when, and how to” questions related to ICI rechallenge in this subset of patients. In addition, ICI use in the transplant population raises concerns for promoting acute rejection when treating cancer in these patients. We herein review current information on these various topics.