In Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma Receiving Everolimus, Acute Kidney Injury Common

the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:

According to a recent study published in the journal BMC Cancer, everolimus-induced acute kidney injury is a common adverse effect with everolimus treatment in patients with cancer and increased creatinine levels.

For the study, researchers sought to investigate the incidence of everolimus-associated acute kidney injury during treatment with everolimus in clinical practice and to identify risk factors associated with its occurrence. Researchers enrolled 110 patients with cancer who were being treated with everolimus. Of those, 84.5% had renal cell carcinoma, and the rest had other cancers.

Results showed that 23% of patients with kidney cancer developed acute kidney injury, while no patients with other cancers did. Of the 21 cases of acute kidney injury, 14 were determined to be everolimus-associated. Researchers also found that the incidence of acute kidney injury increased as baseline estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) decreased (P = 0.029). Of the 14 patients with everolimus-associated acute kidney injury, only 1 patient discontinued everolimus due to acute kidney injury.

The rest received the drug at a decreased dose, were withheld the drug for a short period, or were discontinued due to disease progression.

The findings suggest that everolimus-associated acute kidney injury is common in patients receiving the drug for renal cell carcinoma, but occurrence of acute kidney injury may not require drug discontinuation.