The Nephrotoxicity of Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Mini Review

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have established promising therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of more than 17 tumors and are being used more frequently. Although these drugs have made progress in cancer treatment over the past ten years, severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs) can be fatal. Nephrotoxicity is less frequent than toxicities that affect the gastrointestinal tract, the skin, and the endocrine system, yet it is frequently underdiagnosed because of its difficulty. The most frequent nephrotoxicity is acute kidney injury (AKI), which is typically linked to acute interstitial nephritis. It is possible for kidney impairment caused by ICIs to manifest in much more varied ways, which may have an impact on the management strategies for therapeutic as well as diagnostic purposes. The current study discussed the most recent ICIs for cancer that have been approved, the risk factors and prevalence of nephrotoxicity, the present knowledge of the pathological mechanisms of AKI, and the management protocols.