Professional Documents
Culture Documents
KidneyCancer Connection
Mark A. Perazella, MD,* and Mitchell H. Rosner, MD
*Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; and Division
of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia
The question has been asked of many of us in- Emerging kidney toxicities associated with drugs tar-
terested in the kidneycancer connection; Why geting VEGF and TKIs and other signaling pathways,
onco-nephrology? Nephrologists have tradition- tumor lysis syndrome, cytotoxic chemotherapy-induced
ally treated cancer patients with various forms of kidney toxicities, kidney problems in myeloma, tumor or
kidney disease. However, although typical AKI and treatment-related microangiopathies and glomerulo-
electrolyte/acidbase disturbances can be handled nephritis, stem cell transplantassociated acute and
by the practicing clinical nephrologist, increasingly chronic kidney injuries, obstructive uropathies, severe
it has become clear that many of the issues are more uid and electrolytes abnormalities, and dosing and
complex and highly specialized. For example, timing of chemotherapy in CKD and ESRD patients:
many nephrologists were not trained in the era of these and other complex problems, and their increasing
bone marrow/hematopoietic stem cell transplant, frequency and severity, provide a unique and un-
which has a number of unusual and complicated precedented opportunity for nephrologists to improve
forms of kidney injury. In addition, the number of treatment for cancer patients worldwide.
anticancer drugs with various types of nephrotox-
icity has increased dramatically, and their entry
into clinical practice continues at a fast pace. These Onco-nephrologists help cancer care teams prevent
and other issues have led to a burgeoning interest kidney problems or resolve them as they arise and im-
in a more specic focus of nephrologists on the prove patient outcomes. Research in cancer nephrology is
patient with cancer. already improving kidney care in cancer patients. A
Recognizing this changing landscape, nephrol- more focused approach to cancer nephrology may also
ogists at various large cancer centers began a help address challenges like renal cell carcinoma in
discussion about the need to address this rapidly ESRD.
growing area of nephrology. In 2009/2010, Abdulla
Salahudeen recruited leaders from these cancer
centers and asked the American Society of Ne- The American Society of Nephrology believes onco-
phrology (ASN) to sponsor a forum where this nephrology represents an emerging frontier in the ght
emerging area of nephrology could be discussed. In against kidney disease.
2012, the ASN had its rst ofcial meeting of what
The ASN Onco-Nephrology Forum has worked
was later named the Onco-Nephrology Forum.
hard to spread the word and metastasize into
Dr. Salahudeen chaired the group, pushed forward
multiple journal, meetings, and conferences. One
the kidneycancer agenda with the forum mem-
very helpful contribution to this endeavor included
bers, and put the edgling area of onco-nephrology
the appearance of publications on the onco-
on the nephrology map. The description of the
nephrology topic in several high-level journals visible
Onco-Nephrology Forum on the ASN website is
to many nephrologists. Entire issues dedicated to
noted below:
Why onco-nephrology? While all nephrologists address
nephrology problems in cancer patients, many of these Correspondence: Mark A. Perazella, Section of Nephrology,
problems are increasingly complex. To provide the best Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, BB
114, 330 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut.
nephrology care for cancer patients, we must understand
rapidly changing protocols and therapies. Copyright 2016 by the American Society of Nephrology
Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia
As health care providers, we are acutely aware of the effective chemotherapeutic agents, including bio-
National Vital Statistics Report describing the logics, and stem cell therapies. However, this has
signicant toll cancer, as the second leading cause led to an increase in the number of cancer survivors
of death, has on our patients (1). Importantly, can- that often develop acute and/or CKD due to their
cer incidence rates are highest in the elderly (2). At malignancy and/or its associated treatment. The
the same time, the US Renal Data System (USRDS) best example of the bidirectionality of cancer and
notes that AKI rates are increasing in the elderly, with kidney disease is seen between renal cancer and
rates 10-fold higher than the nonelderly population CKD (Figure 3 ).
(3). Importantly, both AKI and CKD are highly Cancer can directly injure the kidneys through
prevalent in cancer patients, in particular renal cell tumor inltration or production of nephrotoxic
cancer, liver cancer, multiple myeloma, leukemias, (paraneoplastic) substances. Any one of the growing
and lymphomas (4,5). The Belgian Renal Insuf- numbers of therapeutic agents that extend patient
ciency and Anticancer Medication (BIRMA) study lives can cause various types of acute or CKD, along
noted the frequent occurrence of kidney disease in with serious electrolyte and acidbase abnormalities.
ve major cancers (Figure 1) (6). Most concerning is In addition, patients may develop multiorgan illness
the increased mortality noted in patients with AKI/ requiring ICU-level care and RRT. Certain malig-
CKD compared with those without kidney disease. nancies are more likely to cause this severe form of
For instance, the development of AKI can be asso- multiorgan dysfunction and may be associated with
ciated with cessation of effective chemotherapeutic higher mortality rates. When this type of critical
regimens, or the presence of preexisting CKD may illness occurs in the setting of advanced malignancy,
limit the use of otherwise active regimens that may it raises questions about the appropriateness of ag-
be curative. This combination of cancer, kidney dis- gressive care in futile situations and the role of
ease, and mortality has led to the recognition that palliation. Thus, care for oncology patients has be-
nephrology and oncology are intricately linked and come more specialized and complicated, requiring
require our full attention as a subspecialty (Figure collaboration between nephrologists, oncologists,
2). Hence, onco-nephrology was born in a few intensivists, and palliative care specialists.
large centers but has steadily grown to include The remarkable advances in cancer management
many medical centers, hospitals, and clinics. present both new opportunities and complex chal-
What exactly is onco-nephrology? It is a rapidly lenges for the oncology and nephrology communi-
growing area of nephrology where kidney disease in ties. It is essential for nephrologists to be informed
cancer patients has become an important source of and actively involved in certain facets of cancer care.
consultations, with the trend occurring over the last A better understanding of the rapidly evolving eld
1015 years. Oncology patients now make up a sig- of cancer biology and its therapy is required for
nificant number of the patients that nephrologists see nephrologists to become valuable members of the
for kidney-related problems in the outpatient clinic,
on the inpatient oors, and in the medical intensive
care unit (ICU). There is an increase in the number of Correspondence: Mark A. Perazella, Section of Nephrology,
patients with kidney disease, in part related to high Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, BB
114, 330 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut.
incidence rates for many malignancies, as well as im-
provement in the cancer death rates due to more Copyright 2016 by the American Society of Nephrology
cancer care team and to provide the best nephrology care and chronic kidney injury. Furthermore, the ever-evolving
possible. The goal of this American Society of Nephrology eld of cancer therapy demands a comprehensive team ap-
(ASN) sponsored Onco-Nephrology core curriculum is to proach with the nephrologist as one of the critically important
provide the ASN membership including veteran nephrologists, care providers. As such, it is essential for nephrologists to
newly minted nephro-clinicians, and fellowship trainees with develop expertise in the practice of onco-nephrology. We
the building blocks on which further information can be added hope this curriculum provides the initial framework to
as technology advances. This educational venue will be avail- achieve this goal.
able outside the ASN membership as well.
Nephrologists must be well prepared to care for patients
with cancer and its associated renal complications. The renal TAKE HOME POINTS
manifestations of cancer have many unique features, and these
conditions often require specialized approaches to manage c Kidney disease is a frequent and increasing complication of cancer.
uid, electrolyte, and acidbase disturbances, as well as acute c There is a bidirectional relationship between cancer and kidney disease.
Figure 2. The relationship between cancer and AKI and CKD. Cancer, AKI, and CKD are linked by various exposures and
pathways.
c Onco-nephrology is a growing area of nephrology that requires clinicians 3. USRDS. Percent of Medicare patients aged 661 (a) with at least one AKI
to have a better understanding of the renal complications of cancer in- hospitalization, and (b) with an AKI hospitalization that had dialysis by
cluding electrolyte/acidbase disturbances, AKI, and CKD. year, 20032012 (Figure 5.1). Chapter 5: Acute kidney injury. Available
at: http://www.usrds.org/2014/view/v1_05.aspx. Accessed March 1,
c The Onco-Nephrology Curriculum is an educational tool created
2015
by ASN Onco-Nephrology Forum members and other expert ne- 4. Christiansen CF, Johansen MB, Langeberg WJ, Fryzek JP, Srensen HT.
phrologists. Incidence of acute kidney injury in cancer patients: A Danish population-
based cohort study. Eur J Intern Med 22: 399406, 2011
REFERENCES 5. Schmid M, Abd-El-Barr AE, Gandaglia G, Sood A, Olugbade K Jr,
Ruhotina N, Sammon JD, Varda B, Chang SL, Kibel AS, Chun FK, Menon
1. Hoybert DL, Xu J. Deaths: Preliminary data for 2011. Natl Vital Stat Rep M, Fisch M, Trinh QD. Predictors of 30-day acute kidney injury following
61: 2012 radical and partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. Urol Cancer 32:
2. National Cancer Institute. Age-adjusted SEER incidence rates, 2007 12851291, 2014
2011 (Table 2.7). SEER cancer statistics review (CSR) 19752011. 6. Janus N, Launay-Vacher V, Byloos E, Machiels JP, Duck L, Kerger J,
Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program. Available at: Wynendaele W, Canon JL, Lybaert W, Nortier J, Deray G, Wildiers H.
http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2011/browse_csr.php?sectionSEL52& Cancer and renal insufciency results of the BIRMA study. Br J Cancer
pageSEL5sect_02_table.07.html. Accessed March 1, 2015 103: 18151821, 2010
Anti-infectives
The high incidence of sepsis in critically ill cancer patients toxicity and vasoconstriction, leading to nonoliguric AKI,
necessitates the use of nephrotoxic antibacterial and antifungal hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and distal renal tubular aci-
agents. Aminoglycosides may cause nephrotoxicity after 57 dosis. Newer liposomal and lipid formulations are less neph-
days of therapy, and patients present with nonoliguric AKI, rotoxic with comparable efcacy. Other novel antifungal
hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalcemia. The risk agents, caspofungin and voriconizole, are also less nephro-
of renal toxicity may be minimized with once daily dosing. toxic and are often used as rst-line therapy. Several studies
Several alternative drugs to aminoglycosides that do not cause have reported on the nephrotoxicity of vancomycin, although
AKI have become available in the treatment of neutropenic the biological mechanism remains undened. Reported risk
fever. Amphotericin B deoxycholate may cause tubular factors for AKI are higher trough levels (.15 mg/dL) and
higher daily doses (.4 g/day) (27,28). Patients present with from metabolites excreted in the urine, which helps prevent
nonoliguric AKI and bland urine sediment, and most patients hemorrhagic cystitis.
recover renal function after discontinuation of the drug. Methotrexate is an antifolate and antimetabolite commonly
used in the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, and sarcoma.
Chemotherapy High-dose methotrexate (.1 g/m2) may cause AKI by forming
Cisplatin is a DNA alkylating agent used to treat a variety of intratubular crystals leading to obstruction and direct tubular
tumors including sarcomas, small cell lung cancer, ovarian cell toxicity. Patients generally present with nonoliguric AKI
cancer, and germ cell tumors. It is directly tubular toxic with a subsequent rapid rise in serum creatinine. Intravenous
and leads to salt wasting, hyponatremia, hypomagnesemia, and hydration and urinary alkalinization prevent the precipitation
AKI. A low chloride environment enhances toxicity, and of methotrexate crystals. In the setting of AKI, methotrexate
concurrent saline administration to achieve urine output may accumulate and cause neutropenia, hepatitis, mucositis,
.3 L/day is the mainstay of prevention. Approximately one- and neurologic impairment. Folinic acid may be given con-
third of patients will experience AKI within days after treatment, currently to replete folic acid stores and minimize toxicities.
and episodes worsen with repeated dosing. Tubular injury Dialysis can acutely clear methotrexate from the blood, but
may be permanent with doses .100 mg/m2. Amifostine, a levels quickly rebound after discontinuation of treatment.
free radical scavenger, has been shown to ameliorate cisplatin Carboxypeptidase G2 can rapidly convert methotrexate to
nephrotoxicity. Newer platinum agents such as carboplatin an inactive metabolite and recently became commercially
and oxaliplatin appear to cause less tubular injury. Ifosfamide available. This therapy also suffers from rebound in plasma
is an alkylating agent commonly used in treating sarcomas and levels, but to a lesser degree than high-ux dialysis.
metastatic germ cell turmors, which may cause AKI in up to
30% of patients. Proximal tubular injury may also lead to Targeted therapy
glucosuria, hypokalemia, hypophophatemia, and proximal Targeted therapy against vascular endothelial growth factor
renal tubular acidosis. Severe cases may present with Fanconis (VEGF) has advanced the treatment of certain tumors including
syndrome. Cumulative doses .100 g/m2 are associated with colorectal and renal cell carcinoma. Monoclonal antibody to
moderate to severe tubular injury. Risk factors for AKI include VEGF (bevacizumab) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors of the VEGF
prior cisplatin therapy, tumor inltration of the kidney, and pathway (sunitinib, sorafenib, pazopanib, axitinib, and regorafenib)
underlying CKD. Mesna protects against bladder toxicity have been associated with the development of hypertension and
leukemias (911) and multiple myeloma (12,13). More rarely, of cancer cells, and cell sensitivity to cytotoxic therapy. Pa-
TLS has also been described with solid malignancies (14,15) with tient-related factors include age, volume depletion, preexist-
particular features, including large tumor burden, metastatic dis- ing CKD, hyperuricemia, and hyponatremia. Recognition of
ease, specically in the liver, short doubling time, increased che- these high-risk factors is an important step in the management
mosensitivity, and elevated uric acid and lactate dehydrogenase of TLS. In 2008, an expert panel (7) developed a TLS risk
(LDH) (15). Among solid tumors, small-cell carcinoma of the classication system, based on published evidence and expert
lung, germ cell tumors, neuroblastoma, and breast carcinoma opinion, in which malignancies as were described as low
have all been linked to development of TLS (8). TLS is usually (,1% chance), intermediate (1%5% chance), or high risk
associated with cytotoxic chemotherapy but reports have also (.5% chance) for developing TLS. Classication into these
linked it to the use of imatinib (11), bortezomib (12), corticoste- risk groups incorporates type of histology, extent of disease,
roids (16,17), rituximab (18), methotrexate (19), and thalido- renal involvement or dysfunction, and type of induction ther-
mide (13,20). There are also case reports of TLS following total apy (Table 2).
body irradiation (21) and chemoembolization (22). Last, TLS Other factors that have been shown to be predictive of TLS
may also be spontaneous, i.e., not requiring initiation of cytotoxic include male sex and presence of splenomegaly (26,28,30). Cer-
therapy. This has been most frequently described in BTL (2325). tain cytogenetic shifts may also portend greater risk for TLS.
The incidence of TLS varies based on the underlying Specically, MYCN gene mutation in neuroblastoma (31), t
malignancy and the denition of TLS. Most incidence data (8;14)(q24;q32) in L3 type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia
are from older, retrospective studies that precede the Cairo- (32), and inv(16)(p13;q22) in acute myelocytic leukemia (33)
Bishop classication, so there is considerable heterogeneity in are all linked to more aggressive disease and greater risk for TLS.
the data. In a review of 102 patients with high-grade NHL and
using the Hande-Garrow classication, LTLS was seen in 42%
of patients, with CTLS occurring only in 6% (4). In BTL, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND CLINICAL
however, 56% and 11% of patients met criteria for LTLS and MANIFESTATIONS
CTLS, respectively. Mato et al. (26) studied 194 patients re-
ceiving induction therapy for AML and found a TLS incidence TLS is a direct consequence of cell lysis and release of
of 9.8%. In a mixed adult and pediatric study of 788 European intracellular products. When clearance of these products, by
patients with acute leukemia or NHL (27), the overall inci- excretion (renal or hepatic excretion or phagocytosis by the
dence of LTLS and CTLS was 18.9% and 5%, respectively. reticuloendothelial system) (23), is impaired and their serum
When classied by tumor type, LTLS and CTLS incidence rates burden increases, the clinical sequelae of TLS may occur. Of
of 14.7% and 3.4% were seen in AML patients, respectively; these cellular products, nucleic acids (converted to uric acid),
21.4% and 5.2% in ALL patients, respectively; and 19.6% and potassium, and phosphorus are particularly important in the
6.1% in patients with NHL, respectively (27). Wssman et al. pathophysiology of TLS.
(28) reviewed the incidence and complications of 1,791 chil-
dren with NHL and reported an overall incidence of 4.4%, of Hyperuricemia
which 26% had B-cell ALL (B-ALL). The nucleic acids adenine and guanine are metabolized to
xanthine, which is further metabolized by xanthine oxidase to
Risk stratication the water-insoluble uric acid (5) (Figure 1). Because humans
Risk factors (2,29) for TLS include cancer and patient-specic lack a functional gene for urate oxidase (uricase), which fur-
factors. Increased tumor burden is the most cancer-specic ther metabolizes uric acid to the freely soluble and excretable
risk factor and is demonstrated by elevated LDH (28), white allantoin, patients with high-risk malignancy are susceptible
blood cell count .50,000/mm3, massive liver metastasis (14), to rapid increases in serum uric acid. Uric acid is freely ltered
bone marrow involvement (2), cancer stage, proliferation rate at the glomerulus, and handling in the renal proximal tubule
is a combination of reabsorption and secretion via the luminal crystal-independent mechanisms which target hemodynamics.
urate/anion exchanger urate transporter 1 (URAT-1) and the These include increased peritubular capillary pressures, in-
basolateral organic anion transporter (OAT) (34). URAT-1 is creased vasoconstriction, and decreased blood ow (5,3739).
an apical membrane transporter and exchanges anions for urate Uric acid may also prevent recovery from AKI in TLS, as it has
absorption from the tubular lumen. It is critical in regulating been shown to inhibit proximal tubule cell proliferation (38).
urate levels and is targeted by uricosuric and antiuricosuric These diverse mechanisms are united in their propensity to
agents (34). When the capacity to transport luminal uric acid cause AKI. Clinically, hyperuricemia is unlikely to cause symp-
is overwhelmed, there is potential for uric acid to crystallize toms because urinary crystallization of uric acid does not result
within the tubular lumen. An acidic urine pH favors this process. in the renal colic, which is typical of uric acid nephrolithiasis.
Uric acid crystals can cause direct tubular injury by
obstruction, but other pathways for injury include induction Hyperkalemia
of chemokine-mediated inammation from monocyte Massive tumor cell lysis releases potassium into the extracel-
chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (35) and macrophage lular environment, leading to severe hyperkalemia when
migration inhibition factor (MIF) (36). There are also uptake capacity by muscle and liver is exceeded, especially in
the setting of CKD or AKI. Muscle weakness may be the initial population (42). Although the data were not broken down into
symptom, but cardiac arrhythmia, manifested initially by cause of AKI, the incidence of TLS was similar at 17%, suggesting
peaked Twaves, widened QRS complexes, and sine waves, is the that AKI and TLS were also linked in this population. AKI due to
feared complication. TLS may be asymptomatic or include symptoms of uremia, in-
cluding nausea, vomiting, and lethargy.
Hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia
Because phosphate is an intracellular electrolyte, cell lysis releases
signicant amounts of it. However, malignant hematologic cells MANAGEMENT
may contain four times more intracellular phosphate in com-
parison to normal mature lymphoid cells (3), making Prophylaxis and monitoring
hyperphosphatemia a particular issue with tumor cell lysis. Be- Prevention of TLS begins with recognition of risk factors and
cause phosphorus excretion is tied to kidney function, hyper- close laboratory and clinical monitoring. Patients at highest
phosphatemia occurs when the kidneys excretory capacity is risk of developing TLS (Table 2) require intensied monitoring
overwhelmed. Thus, preexisting CKD or AKI enhances risk with more frequent electrolyte checks. Patients with high-risk
for hyperphosphatemia with TLS. Spontaneous tumor lysis, disease may be prone to lactic acidosis from massive tumor cell
however, is less commonly associated with hyperphosphatemia necrosis. Because acidosis inhibits uric acid excretion (43),
and may be due to rapid uptake of extracellular phosphate by prompt recognition and correct of acidosis may prevent or
residual highly metabolically active tumor cells (5). Hyperphos- ameliorate uric acid nephropathy. Additionally, nonsteroidal
phatemia may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or lethargy, but anti-inammatory drugs, iodinated radiocontrast dye, and
it exerts its predominant toxicity by binding to calcium cations. other potentially nephrotoxic therapeutic agents should be
This results in secondary hypocalcemia and its downstream neu- avoided to abrogate the risk of AKI from TLS.
romuscular and cardiovascular effects such as cramps, hypoten-
sion, tetany, and arrhythmias. Additionally, calciumphosphate Volume expansion
precipitates may deposit in tissues, as seen in nephrocalcinosis, Delivery of crystalloid intravenous uids (IVFs) is recommended
including the renal interstitium. for all patients and is essential for those with higher TLS risk.
Volume expansion supports adequate intravascular volume and
AKI renal blood ow, which maintain glomerular ltration. This is the
AKI in TLS may be either due to the aforementioned effects of cornerstone of uric acid, potassium, and phosphate excretion and
acute urate nephropathy or hyperphosphatemic nephrocalci- may delay and prevent the need for renal replacement measures
nosis affecting the renal tubulointerstitium or a combination of (2,6,44). High-dose IVFs up to 3 L have been recommended (2),
the two. Some studies have suggested that a urine uric acid to for a target urine output of $2 mL/kg/h. Diuretics may be nec-
creatinine ratio of .1 may be specic to uric acid nephropathy essary if patients develop volume overload, but routine use is not
(40), but another study has noted high uric acid to creatinine recommended to avoid volume depletion.
ratios in AKI from other etiologies (41).
The association between AKI and TLS has been demonstrated Urinary alkalinization
across various populations and tumor subtypes (5). Annemans Alkalinization makes physiologic sense, as increasing urine pH
et al. (27) found that in patients with leukemia and NHL who from 5 to 7 can increase the solubility of uric acid .10-fold
had TLS, 45% had AKI. A smaller pediatric cohort of B-cell NHL (28). However, urinary alkalinization decreases calcium
or ALL noted renal insufciency in 20% percent of the study phosphate solubility (2), thereby exacerbating its precipitation
2. Which of the following electrolyte abnormalities dene Answer: d is correct. Rasburicase, as shown in Figure 3, is
laboratory TLS? recombinant urate oxidase that enzymatically transforms uric
acid into allantoin. It has no known effect on urine pH, renal
a. Hypokalemia
tubular cells, URAT1 transporters, or xanthine crystals. Thus,
b. Hypercalcemia
answers ac and e are incorrect.
c. Hypophosphatemia
hormone secretion (SIADH) in a euvolemic patient or rarely salt or improve cognitive testing (9). In addition, chronic tolvaptan
wasting due to cisplatin therapy. use may be limited by expense and cumulative dose-dependent
Although patients with cancer have hyponatremia due to hepatotoxicity (10).
many etiologies (Table 1), SIADH is the most common etiol-
ogy that is directly attributable to cancer. This is because can- Hypokalemia
cer patients have nonvolume and nonosmotic stimuli for Similar to hyponatremia, hypokalemia is commonly encoun-
antidiuretic hormone (ADH) release, such as nausea/vomiting tered in cancer patients, resulting from cancer-distinct and
and pain or medications such as cyclosphosphamide. An ad- cancer-specic causes (Table 2) and, more commonly, from a
ditional factor is the paraneoplastic release of ADH from tu- combination of the two. Proper diagnosis starts with excluding
mor subtypes, notably SCLC and head and neck cancer (6). pseudohypokalemia from postphlebotomy transcellular
Finally, several chemotherapy drugs have been linked to shifts, which is seen in patients with profound leukocytosis
hyponatremia via potentiation of ADH release or action, in- whose blood samples are not refrigerated or immediately an-
cluding vinblastine, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide (7). alyzed. Once true hypokalemia is conrmed, measurement of
Cisplatin is another antineoplastic agent linked to urine potassium and the trans-tubular potassium gradient can
hyponatremia through a mechanism that involves salt wasting be helpful in analyzing renal potassium wasting (11).
at the loop of Henle (8). Ten percent of patients on cisplatin In cancer-distinct causes, chemotherapy leads to hypoka-
therapy at a single center developed hyponatremia with a high lemia either indirectly via side effects of decreased appetite/
urine sodium concentration but with profound volume de- intake, vomiting, and diarrhea or directly via renal tubular
pletion. Thus, these patients required volume expansion with effects. For example, ifosfamide causes renal potassium
saline to correct their hyponatremia, in contrast to patients wasting, either as an isolated proximal tubulopathy or Fanconi
with SIADH who are volume replete. This underscores the syndrome (FS), which may persist after treatment. Fifteen
need for correct etiologic diagnosis of hyponatremia to pro- percent of pediatric cancer patients who received ifosfamide
vide appropriate therapy. Therapy must be tailored for the therapy exhibited persistent hypokalemia months to years after
patient, the underlying diagnosis, and the severity of hypona- the end of treatment (12).
tremia. Severe hyponatremia with serum Na concentration Cancer-specic causes of hypokalemia include tumors that
,110 mEq/L and neurologic symptoms may need 3% hyper- secrete ectopic adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) such as
tonic saline for acute management. Fluid restriction is the SCLC, thymus or bronchial carcinoid, thyroid medullary
mainstay of treatment for SIADH, with salt tablets and loop carcinoma, or neuroendocrine tumors (13). Although un-
diuretics as adjunctive therapy. However, these measures can common, these tumors stimulate renal potassium wasting
hinder quality of life in the cancer patient, and thus, aquaretics via excessive cortisol release that activates the mineralocorticoid
that inhibit the vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2-R) to inhibit pathway. Accordingly, other features of hypercortisolemia
water reabsorption in the collecting duct are suggested for are also present including pigmented skin, diabetes, and hy-
management of hyponatremia secondary to SIADH in cancer pertension (13). Another cancer-specic etiology for hypoka-
patients if other therapies are not feasible or effective. How- lemia is evident in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), M4 and M5
ever, the data on their clinical utility in cancer patients are sparse. subtypes, which has been long associated with hypokalemia
In a small, single center safety and efcacy study, tolvaptan, a (14,15). These malignancies increase serum lysozyme
V2-R antagonist, was superior to placebo in the correction of and lysozymuria, leading to the hypothesis that lysozyme-
hyponatremia but did not decrease hospital length of stay (LOS) mediated tubular injury leaks potassium (and other electrolytes)
into urine. Another putative mechanism may be renin-like panitumumab, display tumoricidal activity against a variety of
activity by AML blast cells stimulating the mineralocorticoid cancers, but they also prevent the insertion of a magnesium
pathway (16). channel, transient receptor potential M6 (TRPM6), into the
The potassium losses in these cases may be profound and apical membrane of distal tubular cells (Figure 1) (18). As a re-
require aggressive replacement. The choices for replacement sult, magnesium cannot be reabsorbed from the tubular lumen
are the same as those utilized for hypokalemia in the noncancer and serum magnesium levels fall, affecting 10%36% of patients
patient (11), but it should be noted that given the difculty in early clinical trials of cetuximab (7). A fractional excretion of
cancer patients may have with oral intake due to nausea, magnesium .15% in a hypomagnesemic patient indicates renal
mucositis, etc., intravenous dosing is often necessary. Hypo- wasting. Treatment involves replacing magnesium, and intrave-
kalemia treatment is also ineffective if hypomagnesemia re- nous dosing is usually needed because diarrhea is a dose-limiting
mains uncorrected, due to unchecked potassium losses via the adverse effect of oral magnesium. Fortunately, renal magnesium
renal outer medullary K1 channel (ROMK) channel in distal wasting subsides over time following discontinuation of the
nephron tubular cells (17). EGFR antagonist. However, this is not the case with the platin
drugs, where renal magnesium wasting can be permanent.
Hypomagnesemia in cancer patients
Hypomagnesemia in the cancer patient may be due to decreased Hypercalcemia
intake or from renal magnesium wasting. Renal losses of Twenty percent to 30% of cancer patients experience hypercal-
magnesium are principally due to chemotherapy-mediated cemia during the course of their malignancy (19), and this is
injury to the distal nephron, the site of active magnesium predictive of poor prognosis (20). Hypercalcemia of malignancy
reabsorption in the nephron. This has been noted with cisplatin, uses one of two mechanisms: 1) osteolytic release of local cal-
but a rising number of cases are being attributed to drugs that cium from bone directly involved by cancer cells or 2) stim-
target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway. ulation of osteoclast activity by release of the tumor-derived
Monoclonal antibodies against EGFR, such as cetuximab and endocrine factors. Although these mechanisms are distinct,
Figure 1. Absorption of magnesium from the tubular lumen is via an EGFR-dependent apical channel, TRPM6. This pathway is
inhibited by use of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies such cetuximab. EGF, epidermal growth factor; EGFR, epidermal growth factor
receptor; TRPM6, transient receptor potential M6. Red line denotes inhibition of interaction.
2. Which of the following laboratory abnormalities are seen Answer: e is correct. Type B lactic acidosis is the production
in Fanconi syndrome? of lactic acid in the absence of ischemia. It is linked with cer-
tain malignancies, particularly lymphoma, and hypotheses
a. Hyperkalemia for its pathophysiology include tumor-induced anaerobic gly-
b. Hypomagnesemia colysis and lactate production. Lactic acidosis of malignancy
c. Hypophosphatemia correlates well with tumor burden, and levels improve with
d. Metabolic alkalosis control of that burden. The urinary anion gap is not useful in
e. Hyperglycemia the diagnosis of this disorder. Although acute treatment of aci-
dosis may require bicarbonate, levels of lactic acid may rise with
Answer: c is correct. Fanconi syndrome is a constellation of sustained bicarbonate infusion. Last, hemodialysis is an inef-
metabolic abnormalities, which result following proximal tubule cient modality for lactic acid clearance, as production is higher
injury. As the proximal tubule is the primary site for than clearance rates, even in continuous RRT.
Q1: Please verify corrections, especially to references. The end of the references were changed to match
style, so please make sure the edits are correct.
Chapter 6: Glomerular Diseases and Cancer
Divya Monga* and Kenar D. Jhaveri
*Nephrology Division, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi; and Nephrology Division,
Northwell Health, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Great Neck, New York
2) Tumor antigens may form circulating immune com- Older age and male sex were identied risk factors for cancer-
plexes that are subsequently trapped in glomerular associated HSP (14).
capillaries. Crescentic glomerulonephritis (CGN) has been associated
3) External factors such as infections with oncogenic viruses or with renal cell, gastric, and lung cancers (2).
altered immune function that can cause both the malig- Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) has been associated
nancy and MN. with mucin-producing gastric, lung, and breast cancers (16).
In these patients, ADAMTS13 activity is not impaired, and
Other glomerular diseases they respond poorly to plasmapharesis (17).
Minimal change disease (MCD) has been reported in associ- The exact mechanism of these solid tumor malignancy
ation with solid tumors like lung, colorectal, renal cell cancers, associations with glomerular disease is poorly understood.
and thymoma. Rarely, pancreatic, bladder, breast, and ovarian There have been animal studies (18) done to help us under-
cancers have also been associated (2). Focal segmental glomer- stand the pathomechanisms involved.
ular sclerosis (FSGS) has been observed with renal cell carci- This animal study suggested that T-cell response might be
noma, thymoma, and rarely with lung, breast, and esophageal critical in the development of paraneoplastic glomerular
cancers (2). A membranoproliferative glomerular nephritis disease. Th1 (T-helper type 1)-predominant responses have
(MPGN) pattern of injury has been described with lung, kid- been associated with proliferative and crescentic forms of GN
ney, and stomach cancer (2). and Th2 (T-helper type 2) type responses with a membranous
Mustonen et al. (11) reported the rst known association pattern of injury (19). Cancer-associated MCD might be related
between IgA nephropathy and solid tumors of the respiratory to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production
tract, buccal mucosa, and nasopharynx. Renal cell carcinoma (20). Overexpression of VEGF leads to a collapsing variant
is the most frequently reported solid malignancy associated of FSGS, and underexpression is associated with a TMA pattern
with IgA nephropathy (12). Treatment of underlying cancer of injury (21,22).
improved the IgA nephropathy (11).
Rarely, both solid and hematologic malignancies have been Thymoma-associated glomerular disease
associated with adult Henoch-Schnlein purpura (HSP) MCD is the most common glomerular disease associated
(13,14). Endocapillary glomerulonephritis is the most com- with thymoma (23). The prevalence of thymoma associated
monly seen lesion on kidney biopsy in adults with HSP (15). glomerulopathy is ;2% (23). Other glomerular lesions
described are MN, FSGS, CGN, and lupus-like nephritis Glomerular diseases associated with myeloproliferative
(24). MN is associated with thymoma of epithelial origin. disorders
MCD is associated with thymoma with lymphocyte predom- Myeloproliferative disorders include chronic myelogenous
inance. The pathogenesis of thymoma-associated MN seems leukemia (CML), polycythemia Vera (PCV), and essential
to be similar to solid tumorassociated MN, and thymoma- thrombocythemia. A recent study (35) of 11 patients with
associated MN is likely related to T-cell dysfunction (24). myeloproliferative disorders with proteinuria and renal failure
Studies (2527) have suggested a major role of T cells, espe- showed mesangial sclerosis with hypercellularity in all pa-
cially the Th2 subtype, in thymoma-associated nephrotic tients, segmental sclerosis in eight patients, features of TMA
syndromes. in eight patients, and intracapillary hematopoietic cells in four
Table 2 summarizes the various solid tumors seen with patients. Glomerular disorders associated with myeloprolifer-
solid tumors. ative disorders are usually late complications and tend to
Figure 3. Fibrillary and immunotactoid glomerulonephritis. (A) Electron microscopy view of brillary glomerulonephritis. (B) Electron
microscopy view of immunotactoid glomerulonephritis.
complications including TMA and FSGS in renal transplant Administration (FDA) approved for unresectable or metastatic
patients (6163). MCD, MN, FSGS, MPGN, and IgA ne- melanoma. Renal biopsy in a patient with ipilimumab-
phropathy have also been associated with sirolimus in the associated AKI with nephrotic range proteinuria revealed
kidney transplant literature (6466). There is speculation that lupus nephritis with positive antidouble-stranded DNA an-
sirolimus-induced proteinuria is related to collapsing FSGS as- tibodies (74). There are also case reports of acute granuloma-
sociated with VEGF overexpression in podocytes. tous interstitial nephritis by this agent (75).
Anthracyclines like daunorubicin and doxorubicin have been
Antiangiogenesis agents known to cause nephrotic syndrome with renal lesions consis-
Antiangiogenic agents are used primarily for advanced stage solid tent with MCD, FSGS not otherwise specied (NOS), or col-
tumors, including renal cell carcinoma, nonsmall cell lung car- lapsing glomerulopathy (76).
cinoma, colorectal carcinoma, and gastrointestinal stromal tu- Table 3 summarizes the glomerular toxicities associated
mors. Monoclonal antibodies against VEGF and tyrosine kinase with chemotherapy agents.
inhibitors (TKIs) (67,68) have been observed to cause hyperten- Ongoing education and heightened physician awareness
sion, proteinuria, and renal vascular injury, manifested by pro- regarding these negative associations is central to early
teinuria and TMA (69). VEGF maintains normal functioning of recognition and their successful management.
glomerular endothelial cells, podocytes, mesangium, and
peritubular capillaries. Hence, inhibition of VEGF can lead to
dose-dependent proteinuria, swelling and detachment of glo- CONCLUSION
merular endothelial cells, vacuolization of endothelial cells,
disruption of slit diaphragms, and down-regulation of nephrin Several cancers are associated with various glomerular diseases.
(70). Examples of anti-VEGF therapy include bevacizumab, Membranous nephropathy remains the most common glo-
and TKIs include sunitinib and sorafenib. In the majority of merular pathology reported in patients with solid tumors.
cases, proteinuria and hypertension resolve or signicantly im- Although MCD disease has been classically associated with HL,
prove with cessation of this therapy (69). VEGF inhibitors are MPGN has been recognized in patients with CLL. Several
more likely to present as TMA or renal-limited TMA and TKIs reports and studies in the literature suggest that treating the
as MCD or MCD/FSGS on kidney biopsy (71). cancer leads to resolution of the glomerular disease.
a. The most common glomerular pathology seen with Answer: b is correct. Ipilimumab is a monoclonal antibody
solid tumors is minimal change disease against human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4, which is
b. The most common glomerular pathology seen with he- FDA approved for unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Ne-
matologic malignancies is membranous nephropathy phrotic range proteinuria with a lupus nephritislike picture
c. The most common associated glomerular disease with on renal biopsy has been reported.
GVHD is membranous nephropathy
d. Thymoma has not been associated glomerular diseases 3. A 62-year-old white man with a long-standing history of
hypertension and recent history of CLL was referred by his
Answer: c is correct. The most common glomerular pathol- oncologist for evaluation of proteinuria and elevated serum
ogy seen with solid tumors is membranous nephropathy creatinine. He denied any history of diabetes, hepatitis, or
(MN). Minimal change disease (MCD) is commonly seen blood transfusion. There was no recent infection or travel
with hematologic malignancies such as Hodgkin lymphoma. history. Review of systems was signicant for bilateral in-
MN accounts for the majority of the cases of HSCT-associated termittent lower extremity swelling over the last 4 months.
glomerular disease. Thymoma has been associated with MCD He denied fever, chills, dyspnea, gross hematuria, arthral-
(lymphocyte predominant) and MN (epithelial origin). gia, or rash. His current medication included amlodipine
for hypertension management.
2. A primary care physician refers a 60-year-old white On physical examination, his BP was elevated at 160/94 mmHg.
woman for evaluation of nephrotic range proteinuria. She There was mild edema of his lower extremities. The rest
presented with a 1-month history of worsening bilateral of the examination was unremarkable. At the time of pre-
lower extremity edema. She has a history of refractory ma- sentation, serum creatinine was 1.5 mg/dL, and serum al-
lignant melanoma. She was recently started on ipilimumab bumin was 3.5 g/dL. Complete blood count, liver function
after failing standard chemotherapy. Her melanoma has tests, and a lipid prole were normal. Urinalysis was signif-
responded to therapy. icant for 1020 RBC/hpf and 21 proteinuria. A 24-hour
On physical examination, her BP was normal at 120/80 mmHg, urine collection revealed 1.8 g protein. A workup for sec-
and there was 31 pitting edema of his lower extremities. ondary causes of proteinuria revealed low C3 and C4 levels.
The rest of the examination was unremarkable. At the time Hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibody, antinuclear
of presentation, serum creatinine was 0.9 mg/dL, serum antibody, cryoglobulins, and human immunodeciency
albumin was 2.8 g/dL, total cholesterol was 290 mg/dL, virus (HIV) antibody were negative. Serum and urine
and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was 197 mg/dL. immunoxation did not reveal any monoclonal immu-
Liver function tests and complete blood count were noglobulin. Sonogram revealed normal-sized kidneys. A
normal. A 24-hour urine collection revealed 8.5 g protein. A kidney biopsy was subsequently performed.
workup for secondary causes of nephrotic syndrome revealed What is the most likely kidney biopsy diagnosis?
normal complement levels. Hepatitis B surface antigen,
hepatitis C antibody, antinuclear antibody, cryoglobulins, a. Membranous nephropathy
and human immunodeciency virus (HIV) antibody were b. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
negative. Serum free light chains were within the normal ratio. c. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Sonogram revealed normal-sized kidneys. A kidney biopsy d. Acute interstitial nephritis
reveals a proliferative glomerular disease with immunouo-
rescence suggestive of a full house pattern and electron mi- Answer: b is correct. A membranoproliferative glomerulo-
croscopy showing mesangial and subendothelial deposits. nephritis (MPGN) pattern of injury on renal biopsy has been
What is the most likely diagnosis? most commonly associated with CLL, followed by MN.
Figure 1. Pathology of myeloma cast nephropathy. (A) Large atypical casts are seen within distal tubular lumina. The casts appear
hypereosinophilic with fractured texture and sharp edges. They are associated with giant cell (arrows) and mononuclear cell reaction,
acute proximal tubular cell injury, and interstitial inammation (hematoxylin and eosin, 3,2003). (B) The casts characteristically are
periodic acidSchiff (PAS) negative (3,2003). (C) Myeloma casts almost always stain for just k or l light chain. This gure shows bright
staining of casts for k (immunouorescence, 3,4003). The casts were negative for l (data not shown). (D) Occasionally, myeloma casts
are composed of small rod- or needle-shaped crystals that ll the distal tubular lumina and, as shown, appear highly electron dense on
electron microscopy (31,8503). Reprinted from reference 8, with permission of the Elsevier Science and Technology Journals.
light chains, which are most commonly k restricted. On elec- protein loss of 7 g/day. RRT was eventually required in 42% of
tron microscopy, granular-powdery deposits are distributed patients, and median survival after starting dialysis was less than
within the mesangium and midportion of the glomerular, 1 year. In general, cardiac involvement occurs in nearly one-third
tubular, and vessel wall basement membranes. of patients and portends a poor prognosis.
Therapy of LCDD is directed at the underlying myeloma. AL amyloid presents as an amorphic hyaline substance
Cytotoxic chemotherapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell within the mesangium, glomerular basement membranes, and
transplantation (HCT) has met with good success (11,12). vessel walls. Mesangial involvement may be diffuse or nodular.
Amyloid stains positive for Congo red and reveals a charac-
AL amyloidosis teristic apple-green birefringence under polarized light. Im-
AL amyloidosis occurs when pathogenic light chains unfold munouorescence staining reveals the underlying monotypic
and deposit as insoluble brils extracellularly within tissues. It light chain, which has a l: k ratio of 6:1. Electron microscopy
is found in up to 15% of patients with MM on autopsy (13,14). demonstrates nonbranching randomly oriented 8- to 10-nm
In 40% of patients with AL amyloidosis, the bone marrow will brils (Figure 3) (8). Amyloid deposits may appear as sub-
have .10% plasma cells, although only 10% will meet other epithelial spikes along the basement membrane similar to
criteria for MM (15). Amyloid brils may deposit within any membranous nephropathy.
organ, but most commonly affect the kidneys, heart, liver, and Treatment with high-dose melphalan followed by HCT
peripheral nervous system. increases hematologic response and overall median survival
Patients often present with fatigue, weight loss, and nephrotic (16). Improvement in renal function highly correlates with
syndrome. The clinical characteristics of patients with biopsy- increased survival (17).
proven renal amyloidosis were described in a retrospective review
of 84 patients at the Mayo Clinic (15). The median age at di- Treatment of cast nephropathy
agnosis was 61 years, and 62% were male. The median serum General measures
creatinine on presentation was 1.1 mg/dL. The majority of pa- Volume resuscitation to assure optimum hemodynamic
tients had nephrotic syndrome (86%) with a median 24-hour support and adequate urine output (;3 L/day) are of critical
importance in the initial management. Based on experimen- alkalinization cannot be recommended. Colchicine was
tal evidence that furosemide promotes intratubular cast shown to reduce cast formation through decreasing THP
formation by increasing sodium delivery to the distal tubule, secretion and binding in rats, but human studies have
the use of loop diuretics should be avoided unless there is been disappointing (19,20).
volume overload. Hypercalcemia should be aggressively
treated because it can lead to renal vasoconstriction, volume Chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation
depletion, and enhanced cast formation. It has been sugges- The key to treating myeloma cast nephropathy is rapid
ted that urinary alkalinization decreases cast formation by reduction in FLC concentrations. An early decrease in FLC
reducing the net positive charge of FLCs and the interaction levels is associated with the highest rate of renal recovery. In
with THP (18). However, there is no clinical data supporting severe AKI due to cast nephropathy, a 60% reduction in FLC
this approach. Given the risk of causing renal calcium pre- levels by day 21 after diagnosis is associated with renal recovery
cipitation in the setting of hypercalcemia, urinar y in 80% of cases (21). Previous studies with conventional
a. Chemotherapy to reduce monoclonal protein over- Answer: c is correct. Based on retrospective studies, pa-
production tients with AL amyloidosis whom underwent stem cell trans-
b. Plasma exchange to reduce circulating FLC levels plant have been shown to have improved overall survival and
c. High-dose melphalan followed by autologous hema- improved quality of life compared with those undergoing
topoietic stem cell transplant chemotherapy alone. There is no role for plasma exchange
d. Hemodialysis using dialyzers with high-molecular- or hemodialysis with a high cutoff lter in the treatment of
weight cutoff amyloidosis.
Monoclonal gammopathy is a hallmark of plasma Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) is the most
cell dyscrasias and some B-cell lymphoprolife- commonly used laboratory test for the detection of
rative disorders (1). They cover a wide spec- monoclonal proteins. Serum proteins are loaded
trum of diseases from the premalignant condition on to a gel or a capillary tube and are separated by
monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined sig- an electrical current based on charge and size. The
nicance (MGUS) to symptomatic multiple proteins are then stained for visualization. The
myeloma, malignant lymphomas, and chronic proteins migrate into ve zones or fractions. These
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The monoclonal are albumin, a1, a2, b, and g. The b fraction often
(M) proteins can be the entire immunoglobulin, has two peaks. Albumin is the most abundant protein
light chain only, or, rarely, heavy chain only. Their in the serum and should make up the largest peak in
ability to cause kidney disease is another char- normal serum. When a monoclonal (M) protein is
acteristic they have in common. In a disease present, a sharp band appears often in the g region.
such as multiple myeloma, the risk of AKI corre- However, M proteins can migrate to the b or even the
lates with the severity of disease and can be as high a fractions. This often occurs when the M protein is
as 50% (2,3). In one study, 87% of patients with comprised of an IgA or free light chain (FLC). In
AKI had the most advanced stage (III) of disease some cases, no band is detected but instead there
according to the Durie Salmon classication (4). is a decrease in the g peak (10). The hypogammaglob-
In fact, only 44% of the patients with stage III ulinemia is due to the monoclonal gammopathy.
disease had normal renal function. Other less Currently, SPEP is the most commonly used test
common causes of AKI in this population include for M proteins globally because of its ease of use and
interstitial nephritis and acute tubular necrosis relatively low cost. Fully automated systems are
(57). available for both the agarose gel and capillary tube
A number of glomerular and tubular lesions have methods, which have increased reproducibility and
also been described in myeloma patients; how- efciency. Because SPEP is quantitative, it is used in
ever, these lesions are actually more common in both diagnostic and response criteria in multiple
patients where the diagnostic criteria for multiple myeloma (11,12). Despite its utility, its detection limit
myeloma or lymphoma have not been met and are is not sensitive enough as a single screening test, espe-
diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of renal cially in low-burden diseases like MGRS. The detection
signicance (MGRS) (8). Patients with MGRS- limit for an M protein is 0.30.5 g/dL in the g region
related kidney disease are more likely to present and up to 0.7 g/dL in the a or b region (13). SPEP is
with proteinuria, hematuria, and mild renal im- positive in 87.6% of multiple myelomas but only
pairment than rapid-onset AKI as in cast nephro- 73.8% of immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis
pathy. In either situation, the identication of a and 55.6% of light chain deposition disease (LCDD)
monoclonal protein changes the diagnosis, path- (14). In addition, the M-band on the SPEP only indi-
ophysiology, and prognosis and directs the cli- cates an M protein but it does not distinguish the iso-
nician toward a hematologic evaluation (9). types. To nd out the type, immunoxation is required.
Monoclonal protein testing should be a part of
any workup of AKI, as well as proteinuria with
mild reduction of renal function in adults. This Correspondence: Nelson Leung, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesotta: Q:1
Email: leung.nelson@mayo.edu
article will review the current available tests for
monoclonal proteins. Copyright 2016 by the American Society of Nephrology
SERUM AND URINE IMMUNOFIXATION In the early 2000s, a new assay was introduced to aid in the detection
of monoclonal proteins. Using antibodies against epitopes that are
Samples are electrophoresed in parallel lanes in immunox- normally hidden in the intact immunoglobulin, the assay detects
ation (IFE). Antibodies against the heavy and light chains of the both k and l FLCs. It is quantitative and automated. The assay is
immunoglobulin are then applied to each lane separately. A not specic for monoclonal light chains but instead infers mono-
reaction forming a sharp band would suggest the presence of clonality when an abnormal ratio between the k and l FLCs is
monoclonal immunoglobulin component (Figure 1). The M detected. The normal ratio is between 0.26 and 1.65. A high ratio
protein composed of the entire monoclonal immunoglobulin suggests a k clone, whereas a ratio ,0.26 suggest a l clone.
would be positive for both a heavy chain and a light chain. The addition of the serum FLC assay to SPEP and serum IFE
The sensitivity of IFE has a detection limit of ;0.1 g/dL of has signicantly increased the sensitivity of monoclonal protein
This rise, however, is not symmetric because k FLCs are evaluation of AKI and proteinuria.
cleared more readily than l. Thus, the asymmetric increase c The Serum free light chain assay signicantly increases the detection
in FLCs results in an increase in the ratio. In patients with rate of monoclonal protein when added to serum immunoxation.
severe renal impairment, a renal reference range for the k to c Urine protein electrophoresis can help distinguish between tubular or
l ratio (0.37 to 3.1) has been recommended (24). Patients with glomerular injury in patients with multiple myeloma.
autoimmune diseases can also have mildly abnormality k to l
ratios. Finally, look for a biclonal gammopathy if there is ele-
vation in both FLCs but the renal function is normal and REFERENCES
autoimmune disorders have been ruled out.
1. Kyle RA, Therneau TM, Rajkumar SV, Larson DR, Plevak MF, Offord JR,
Dispenzieri A, Katzmann JA, Melton LJ 3rd. Prevalence of monoclonal
gammopathy of undetermined signicance. N Engl J Med 354: 1362
URINARY FLC 1369, 2006
2. Knudsen LM, Hippe E, Hjorth M, Holmberg E, Westin J. Renal function
The measurement and quantication of FLC can also be per- in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: A demographic study of 1353
formed in the urine. An elevated k to l ratio suggests a k clone, patients. The Nordic Myeloma Study Group. Eur J Haematol 53: 207
212, 1994
and a depressed ratio suggests a l clone (25). Studies suggest
3. Ivanyi B. Frequency of light chain deposition nephropathy relative to
that the urinary FLC can correlate with the serum FLC in an renal amyloidosis and Bence Jones cast nephropathy in a necropsy
individual patient (26). However, urinary FLC excretion does study of patients with myeloma. Arch Pathol Lab Med 114: 986987,
not always increase even in patients with elevated serum FLC 1990
Benign hypertension
Luxton showed that hypertension may occur as a manifestation
of renal radiation injury in the absence of renal failure, with
variable degrees of proteinuria. However, other studies have
shown close correlation between degree of azotemia and
prevalence of hypertension (1). This is also valid for the hy-
Figure 1. Photomicrograph by light microscopy of a renal biopsy
pertensive CKD that occurs after HSCT (4,21).
specimen in case of BMT nephropathy (4). There is mesangiolysis
(*) and extreme widening of the space between endothelium and
Hypertension following unilateral renal irradiation glomerular basement membrane (arrow). The tubular epithelium is
Hypertension alone may be the presenting feature if only a intact, but the tubules are separated by an expanded interstitium.
single kidney is irradiated. This may occur because the periodic acid-Schiff stain; magnication, 2503. Reproduced with
irradiated kidney shrinks and creates renin-dependent hyper- permission from reference 4.
tension in the manner of a Page kidney (22). Such cases have
been successfully treated by unilateral nephrectomy (2325). trial was based on the hypothesis of mitigation: when a subject
has received sufcient irradiation to kidneys, use of an angio-
Histopathology tensin-converting enzyme inhibitor after exposure but before
There are early and late changes following renal irradiation expression of injury may be benecial in mitigating the later
(3,26). Early changes include endothelial microvascular injury injury.
with cell swelling, subendothelial expansion, and capillary Despite treatment, patients with radiation nephropathy may
loop occlusion (Figure 1). There is often mesangiolysis and evolve to ESRD and require chronic dialysis therapy or undergo
variable tubular injury. Ultrastructural examination shows kidney transplant. When this occurs after HSCT, survival on
amorphous material within the subendothelial space, which dialysis is poor (29). Such patients may be eligible for kidney
appears to extend the lamina rara interna (Figure 2). Late transplantation and could avoid the need for immunosuppres-
changes include sclerosis of interlobular and arcuate arteries, sion if the transplanted kidney was from the same donor as gave
with residual parenchymal damage with increased mesangial them their hematopoietic stem cells (30,31).
matrix, glomerular scarring, tubular atrophy, and renal mass
reduction. Fibrosis may be extensive.
RISK OF CANCER FROM IMAGING
510 years to develop, for the average dialysis patient, i.e., TAKE HOME POINTS
those starting dialysis at age 65 or more, radiation-induced
excess risk of cancer cannot be a major risk because the ex- c Radiation nephropathy can result from external or internal radiation
exposures.
pected remaining lifetime is 4 years or less for a 65 year old c Radiation nephropathy will not occur after diagnostic X-ray exposures.
starting dialysis (35). c Accidental or belligerent radiation exposures may result in renal radia-
Although cancer after kidney transplant is a genuine tion injury.
concern, one would expect a surfeit of leukemias if pretrans- c Radiation nephropathy is associated with mesangiolysis and glomerular
plant radiation exposure was the culprit, and leukemia after capillary thrombosis on renal biopsy; it can lead to a full blown throm-
botic microangiopathy.
kidney transplant is rare. An unjustied fear of cancer should c Mitigation of radiation nephropathy may be possible with angiotensin
not get in the way of essential radiologic imaging. However, converting enzyme inhibitors.
prevalent kidney transplant patients received cumulative
median doses of 17 mSv in another report, and 12% of that ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
cohort had cumulative exposures of 100 mSv (36). Thus,
there may be reason for concern in individual patients, per- This work was supported (in part) by the intramural Research Pro-
haps especially in younger people with longer expected gram of the National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of
lifetimes and therefore more possibility of late radiation- Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and Merit Review Awards
induced cancers. Finally, the concern about exposure to IO1 BX002256 from the US Department of Veterans Affairs Bio-
ionizing radiation has affected practice in surveillance for medical Laboratory Research and Development and IO1 CX000569
nephrolithiasis; ultrasound, rather than CT may be preferable Clinical Sciences Research and Development (E.P.C., principal in-
for serial imaging. vestigator, both grants).
DISCLOSURES
FUTURE CONCERNS None.
Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
42%100% of patients depending on total cisplatin dose and Numerous compounds have been studied to prevent cisplatin
length of exposure. Hypomagnesemia and renal magnesium nephrotoxicity but only amifostine is US Food and Drug Ad-
wasting may persist for up to 6 years after initial dose (5). ministration (FDA) approved for protection against cumulative
Renal salt wasting syndrome has been reported in up to 10% nephrotoxicity from cisplatin therapy. Amifostine is protective
of patients, manifesting as hyponatremia and severe ortho- by increasing the binding of ROS to thiol groups. Side effects,
static hypotension in the setting of high urinary sodium cost, and concerns that it also diminishes antitumor effect have
concentration. This syndrome may present 24 months after limited its use in clinical practice (3). A recent study in a murine
initiation of cisplatin therapy (6). Rare cases of thrombotic model showed that magnesium supplementation during cis-
microangiopathy have been reported in patients who were platin therapy may attenuate renal damage; however, further
also receiving bleomycin with cisplatin (4). Syndrome of in- studies in humans are needed to validate these ndings (9).
appropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) has Carboplatin is also a platinum-based agent with a lower po-
been documented in patients receiving vigorous hydration tential for nephrotoxicity compared with cisplatin but can be
(7) but is less common now as cisplatin-associated nausea is nephrotoxic at myeloablative doses of .800 mg/m2 (10). Ox-
treated with new-generation antiemetics, diminishing the aliplatin, another platinum compound, has no nephrotoxic
stimulus for antidiuretic hormone secretion. potential.
Vigorous hydration has been shown to reduce the incidence
of AKI in patients receiving cisplatin. Both mannitol and loop Ifosfamide
diuretics have also been used to ameliorate toxicity; however, Ifosfamide is an alkylating agent used in the treatment of a
randomized studies have not shown a clear benet (8). variety of childhood and adult malignancies. Its use, however, is
Gemcitabine
Gemcitabine is a pyrimidine analog used in the treatment of a
variety of solid tumors. Nephrotoxicity of this agent manifests as
thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). During early clinical
experience, TMA was reported at a low rate of 0.015%; however,
as the drug became more widely used, the incidence was noted to
increase to as high as 2.2%. TMA presents as new-onset renal
Figure 2. Gemcitabine-induced thrombotic microangiopathy. insufciency, various degrees of microangiopathic hemolytic
Light microscopy (H&E stain) of the kidney biopsy shows intra-
anemia (MAHA), and new or worsening hypertension (HTN).
arteriolar microthrombus. (Courtesy of Dr. Surya V. Seshan.)
In a single institution experience of 29 cases of gemcitabine-
induced TMA, de novo renal dysfunction or worsening of pre-
and therefore its use should be considered only after standard existing CKD was noted in all patients (32). Kidney biopsies were
supportive measures are maximized (22). For most patients, performed in four cases and showed thrombi in small blood
supportive care in the form of leucovorin rescue results in vessels, glomerular mesangiolysis, and widening of subendothe-
recovery of renal function, and additional doses of HDMTX lial space with detachment of endothelial cells from the glomer-
may be given without untoward side effects (20). ular basement membrane consistent with TMA (Figure 2). In
this study, the development of TMA was independent of cumu-
Pemetrexed lative dose, which ranged from 4 to 81 g/m2. After discontinu-
Pemetrexed is an antifolate agent that inhibits several enzymes ation of gemcitabine 28% of patients had complete recovery of
involved in DNA synthesis. This drug is not metabolized renal function, and 48% had partial recovery or stable renal
signicantly, and 70%90% of the drug is excreted unchanged function. Although patients in this study did not undergo plas-
in the urine within the rst 24 hours after administration. The mapheresis, some authors advocate this treatment for patients
half-life of pemetrexed is 3.5 hours in patients with normal renal with TMA due to gemcitabine. Literature reviews show no dif-
function but is increased in patients with renal insufciency ference in outcomes between patients treated with plasmaphe-
resulting in higher exposure to the drug (24). Pemetrexed has resis and conservative management with drug withdrawal
not been studied in patients with creatinine clearance (CrCl) (32,33).
, 45 mL/min, but a fatality was reported in a patient with Eculizumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the com-
CrCl of 19 mL/min who received this drug (25). Mild and re- plement protein C5 approved for treatment of atypical hemolytic
versible renal toxicity has been reported in patients who received uremic syndrome, has been used to treat gemcitabine-induced
high-dose therapy ($600 mg/m2). Recently, several cases of TMA (3436). Of the six patients reported, two had complete
pemetrexed-induced tubular injury were reported (2629) includ- renal response, two had partial improvement in renal function,
ing interstitial nephritis and brosis, as well as diabetes insipidus. and two patients showed no improvement. Given the response
After discontinuation of pemetrexed, the renal function stabilized rates similar to supportive care alone, the use of eculizumab
in these patients, but did not return to pretreatment baseline. should be carefully weighed against its high cost.
Ipilimumab Mitomycin
Ipilimumab is a novel immunotherapy agent that has shown Mitomycin is an antitumor antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces
signicant promise in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. caespitosus used for treatment of gastrointestinal and other solid
Ipilimumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody directed tumors. It has been associated with life-threatening TMA with
against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), a key renal failure and MAHA. Mitomycin nephrotoxicity is dose de-
negative regulator of T-cell activation. Because of its immu- pendent, with the risk of TMA being 1.6% with cumulative doses
nomodulatory effects, ipilimumab has been associated with a #49 mg/m2 and as high as 30% at doses exceeding 70 mg/m2 (37).
number of immune-mediated side effects involving skin, liver, Therefore, doses exceeding 40 mg/m2 are not recommended.
gastrointestinal tract, and endocrine system (30). Renal in-
volvement appears less common, but two cases of biopsy Antiangiogenic agents
proven granulomatous acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) and In the last several years, a group of agents called antiangiogenic
one case of lupus nephritis have been reported (30,31). Three therapies have been utilized in the treatment of a variety of solid
CISPLATIN
Although pamidronate is more notoriously associated with commonly prescribed chemotherapeutic agents for CKD pa-
collapsing glomerulopathy, there are case reports of acute tients requiring chemotherapy is quite poor. This chapter was an
tubular necrosis with this agent as well (80). Dehydration, effort to summarize the data that are available and to provide the
concomitant use of nephrotoxic medication, and overly fre- treating physician with some guidance when treating patients
quent dosing of the bisphosphonates all increase susceptibility with cancer and CKD.
to deterioration of renal function following bisphosphonate
exposure. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
recommends that his zoledronate be avoided in patients with TAKE HOME POINTS
CrCl of ,30 mL/min and that the initial dose of 4 mg be
reduced to 3.5 mg for CrCl of 5060 mL/min; 3.3 mg for c The liver and the kidneys serve the major pathways of drug metabolism
CrCl of 4049 mL/min; and 3 mg for CrCl of 3039 mL/ and elimination with much smaller contributions from the fecal and re-
min. For pamidronate, the usual dose of 90 mg over 23 hours ticuloendothelial systems.
and ASCO recommends giving 90 mg over 46 hours for CrCl c Published guidelines for dose modication of chemotherapy for cancer
of ,59 mL/min. Neither agent should be used more fre- patients, with the exception of carboplatin, are largely based on limited
quently than every 34 weeks, the serum creatinine should pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data.
be checked prior to each administration, and the medication c In several cases, the parent drug and its metabolites are responsible for
should be held if the creatinine increases .0.5 mg/dL with systemic toxicity, and the presence of renal insufciency can potentiate
normal renal function or .1 mg/dL if there is abnormal renal toxicity of the parent drug and its metabolites.
function at baseline (81).
Table 2 includes commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs
and their dose adjustment in the setting of CKD.
REFERENCES
CKD AND CANCER: A CIRCULAR The authors also observed an increased risk of
RELATIONSHIP urothelial cancer at an eGFR ,30 mL/min per
1.73 m2 but no signicant associations between
CKD is recognized as a disease that may complicate eGFR and other cancers. Finally, CKD conferred an
cancer and its therapy. This is in part related to the fact increased cancer-specic mortality in patients with
that preexisting CKD is highly prevalent in oncologic kidney and urinary tract cancer (6). In ESRD patients
patients. Indeed, as observed in the Renal Insuf- on dialysis, the observed increased risk for renal paren-
ciency and Anticancer Medications (IRMA)-1 and -2 chymal cancer is related to the development of ac-
studies (1,2), more than half of patients with an active quired renal cystic disease, which increases with time
malignancy present with an eGFR of ,90 mL/min on dialysis (7).
per 1.73 m2. Furthermore, the prevalence of more
severe CKD (i.e., stages 35), not requiring dialysis, CKD and antineoplastic drugs
was 12.0% and 11.8%, respectively (1,2). Similar re- Acute and chronic kidney injury associated with
sults have been reported in other series from different antineoplastic drug exposure is well described for the
countries, thereby conrming that CKD is a relatively classic cytotoxic agents that are used. In addition,
common occurrence in cancer patients, irrespective there is a large body of literature that describes dosing
of the type of malignancy. As a whole, causes poten- of these drugs in patients with underlying renal
tially able to have a negative impact on kidney func- dysfunction and those on dialysis; however, little is
tion are summarized in Table 1. known about the appropriate use of the new targeted
Interestingly, the relationship between the kidney agents in this population. This creates a complicated
and cancer appears to be bidirectional (3). For exam- issue for oncologists and nephrologists who care for
ple, preexisting CKD may impact the bioavailability these patients and must provide both safe and effective
and/or safety prole of an anticancer drug, poten- anticancer therapy. After decades of use of common
tially leading to different and sometimes suboptimal cytotoxic drugs, clinicians versed in cancer care and its
treatment choices. On the other hand, it is also pos- complications are well aware of the main toxicities of
sible that the renal effects of a novel anticancer drug these agents. The new, molecularly targeted, antican-
may lead to progressive kidney injury or to worsening cer drugs that are entering clinical practice have a
of preexisting CKD (3). In addition to the observed wide array of previously unrecognized and ill-dened
increase in CKD prevalence in cancer patients, both adverse effects (8). Ultimately, these toxicities must
CKD and ESRD are risk factors for a number of ma- be readily recognized and managed by those provid-
lignancies (4). However, not all solid tumors appear ing care for patients exposed to these drugs. This
to be equally represented in this population.
A retrospective cohort study of 1,190,538 adults Correspondence: Laura Cosmai, Division of Nephrology and
assessed the association between eGFR level and the Dialysis, Istituti Ospitalieri di Cremona, Largo Priori, 1, 26100,
Cremona, Italy. Email: lacos@iol.it
risk of incident cancer (5). During 6,000,420 person-
years of follow-up, 76,809 incident cancers were All authors are members of the Joint Italian Association of Medical
Oncology (AIOM)/Italian Society of Nephrology (SIN) Working
identied in 72,875 subjects. After adjustment for
Group on Onco-Nephrology.
time-updated confounders, lower eGFR was associ-
ated with an increased risk of renal cancer, with an L.C. and C.P. contributed equally to the preparation of this
chapter.
adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 2.28 (95% CI, 1.78
2.92) for an eGFR ,30 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (5). Copyright 2016 by the American Society of Nephrology
includes understanding risk factors for targeted drug-induced Although the relationship between kidney function and
kidney injury, appropriate drug dosing (if known) for the patient cytotoxic agents will be covered in other chapters of the
with AKI, CKD, and those on dialysis, the clinical manifestations curriculum, the pharmacokinetic properties and specic renal
of drug nephrotoxicity, and the optimal management of neph- toxicities of novel anticancer agents are summarized in Table 2.
rotoxic complications (8). The pharmacokinetics of these drugs are similar as most are
Frequently, oncologists ask their nephrology colleagues to 90%98% bound to plasma proteins, and their excretion oc-
assess the degree of kidney function impairment to provide curs predominantly via the feces (or the reticulo-endothelial
insight intodosageadjustmentofanticancer therapy.Toaccomplish system), whereas urinary excretion is quite variable from one
this, a thorough knowledge of the specic metabolism of anticancer drug to the other (8).
agents and of their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic As stated in the drugs Summary of Product Characteristics
properties is mandatory. The thought process includes deciding (SmPC), the pharmacokinetic properties of the majority of these
if the drug should be administered, when it is appropriate to drugs are not inuenced by kidney function (3). A population
dose the drugs, and to what extent dosage adjustment should be pharmacokinetic model, which includes data from subjects with
used in the setting of underlying kidney disease (3). This approach baseline creatinine clearance ranging from 30 to 150 mL/min,
must be carefully done, as unnecessary treatment interruptions and indicated that it is unlikely that renal insufciency has a clinically
drug dose reductions may be associated with suboptimal cancer relevant effect on the pharmacokinetics of targeted therapies (9).
therapy and hamper the clinical benets of cancer therapy. Thus, no dosage adjustment is recommended in patients
Optimal management of underlying CKD and its complica- with a creatinine clearance .30 mL/min. To date, only patients
tions, which may be signicantly ameliorated in many cases, as with adequate kidney function (serum creatinine #1.5 times the
well as prevention of further kidney damage from other upper limit of normal) have been included in registrative
exogenous nephrotoxins (e.g., contrast medium, nonsteroidal randomized controlled trials. In patients with a creatinine
anti-inammatory drugs, bisphosphonates) in cancer patients clearance ,30 mL/min, a patient population that is poorly
with preexisting CKD, is also key to minimizing drug-related studied, caution is recommended (10). Interestingly, this con-
complications. Unfortunately, patients with CDK and those on servative recommendation is not based on data, as drug expo-
dialysis are often undertreated for their neoplastic disease due sure in patients with severe renal impairment was similar to
to the fear of drug-induced adverse effects. that observed in patients with normal kidney function (10).
(MR) imaging, ophthalmologic evaluation, plasma metaneph- chromosome 3p in these tumors and differing ndings in re-
rines, and consultation with vHL expert. The implementation gards to cytokeratin 7 staining (12). Based on multiple natural
of screening guidelines has led to vast improvements in history studies done at the National Cancer Institute, the standard
survival (10). of care for timing of resection of renal cancer in patients with vHL
Classically, vHL disease and mutations in VHL have been as- disease is when there is a solid component of 3 cm. In the initial
sociated with clear cell renal cancers. However, clear cell papillary series, with a follow-up of .5 years, Walther et al. reported no
renal cell carcinoma (CCPRCC), a relatively recently de- evidence of metastatic disease progression and no need for renal
scribed entity with prominent papillary architecture, exclu- transplantation or dialysis among 52 patients with tumors ,3 cm
sive clear cell morphology, and a partially cystic appearance, at diagnosis. In contrast, distant metastases developed in 11 of 44
has been reported in patients with vHL disease (11). The exact patients (25%) with lesions .3 cm in size, including 3 of 27
characteristics of CCPRCC in this context, and relationship to patients (11%) with lesions between 3 and 6 cm (13). Similar
sporadic disease are somewhat controversial, due to loss of results were obtained in a follow-up study 5 years later (14).
survival (with increased risk for cardiovascular Copyright 2016 by the American Society of Nephrology
Answer: d is correct. Diabetes, hypertension, and obesity 3. Which of the following statements is true regarding out-
are independent risk factors for renal cell carcinoma. Diabetes comes in the management of small renal masses?
and hypertension can be found in 25% and up to 60% of a. Cancer-specic survival and overall survival is superior
kidney cancer patients, respectively. These are also the two with radical nephrectomy, which should be considered
most common causes of ESRD. Given the link between CKD primarily in this population
and RCC, it is not surprising to nd these common overlap- b. Partial nephrectomy is associated with GFR preservation
ping risk factors. Obesity is a lesser but also signicant risk and comparable cancer-specic survival and overall sur-
factor common to both CKD and RCC. vival to that of radical nephrectomy
c. Ablative therapies are associated with increased treatment-
2. Which of the following is the most common pathologic
related complication rates but less disease progression
nding in tumor nephrectomy specimens? d. Active surveillance is not indicated for management of
a. Diabetic nephropathy small renal masses
b. Membranous nephropathy
c. IgA nephropathy Answer: b is correct. Cancer-specic survival and overall
d. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis survival are equivalent between partial and radical nephrec-
e. Minimal change disease tomy. GFR preservation is greater with partial nephrectomy.
For small renal masses, nephron-sparing procedure should
Answer: a is correct. Diabetes is an independent risk factor be considered rst. Ablative therapies have worse oncologic
for RCC and is found in up to 25% of kidney cancer patients. outcomes but lower treatment-related complications. Ac-
Therefore, diabetic nephropathy is common and can be iden- tive surveillance in select populations such as older poor
tied in 8%20% of tumor nephrectomy specimens (depend- operative candidates have been shown to have comparable
ing on the denition of diabetic nephropathy). IgA outcomes.
Answer: Yes, for certain cancers. Virus-associated cancers 3. Should routine screening protocols be in place in dialysis
(liver cancer, cervical cancer, and tongue cancer) and renal cell units?
and bladder cancer (because or risk factors) are more common
in ESRD patients. Breast, colorectal, and lung cancer are not Answer: No, routine cancer screening is not cost-effective
more common in ESRD patients. for most dialysis patients because their expected survival is
short. An individualized approach to cancer screening is
2. What factors affect the efcacy or cost-effectiveness of most appropriate for ESRD patients, considering the patients
cancer screening in general? specic risk factors for cancer development, transplant status,
and expected survival.
Answer: The cancer risk, the effectiveness of the screening
test, and the patients expected survival all affect the efcacy of
Malignancies are common in CKD patients, and the kidney by the malignancy, or surgical removal of the
incidence is higher than in the general age-matched kidney to remove the malignancy); and 4) a renal
population. Because cardiovascular disease and in- transplant patient with a terminal malignancy.
fection are so prevalent in CKD, especially ESRD In the rst scenario, withdrawal of dialysis (911)
patients, the mortality rate from cancer in ESRD is often the ethical question. In the second and third
patients is lower than the age-matched general pop- scenarios, withholding of dialysis or withdrawal may
ulation due to these competing inuences. Thus, the be the ethical issue. An important ethical aspect is the
relative risk of mortality from cancer is increased in ethical imperative of the clinician to rst, do no
the younger ESRD population and then declines with harm. The clinician has the right and duty not to
age (1,2). order a treatment that will do more harm than good.
Patients with cancer and a need for RRT present Nephrologists often nd themselves in the position of
very difcult scenarios for making clinical decisions, being asked to provide dialysis, by a patient, family, or
and an approach grounded in medical ethical prin- other clinicians, when dialysis may not be in the pa-
ciples can be helpful (37). Medical ethics reect the tients best interest. Many clinicians feel they are re-
culture and time that we are living in and also quired to provide dialysis treatment when the patient
include a religious perspective. This chapter will or health care provider (HCP) requests it. The SDMG
focus on a US perspective that reects the generally (recommendations 5 and 6) clearly state that the cli-
accepted values of our society at the present time. The nician has no such obligation. The clinician should
United States has a wide representation of cultural document these discussions and make it clear that the
and religious values, with many patients who are patient/HCP has the right to transfer care to another
new immigrants from many countries. A discussion clinician. Clinicians should not fear medicallegal
of the different medical ethical approaches from these concerns in this scenario; in reality, these rarely, if
societies is beyond the scope of this discussion, but ever, occur, especially if the SDMG is followed.
the clinician should always inquire from the patient Instead, shared decision-making is the preferred
and family how they want prognosis, goals of care, process where the clinician/care team (SDMG rec-
and end-of-life issues discussed with them. This dis- ommendation 1) and the patient/family/HCP
cussion will rely heavily on the national clinical make a care plan for the patient. The rst step in
practice guideline Shared Decision-Making in the Ap- this process is for the care team to ask, listen, and
propriate Initiation of and Withdrawal from Dialysis, understand the patients understanding of his or her
2nd Ed. (SDMG), in particular the section Ethical condition and values and goals in life. With the pa-
Considerations in Dialysis Decision-Making (8). Six tients explicit permission, the care team then ex-
ethical principles should be strongly considered for plains from their expert perspective the patients
patients with cancer when discussing RRT (Table 1). condition, prognosis, and the risks and benets of
Conicts between respect for patient autonomy the treatment options. Recent qualitative studies
and benecence/nonmalecence often can occur have shown that CKD patients want to know their
with these patients. There are four scenarios where prognosis. However, our experience is such that pa-
the ethical issues of cancer and RRT intersect: 1) tients often do not want a numerical estimate, such
patients with ESRD who develop a terminal malig-
nancy; 2) patients with a terminal malignancy who Correspondence: Michael J. Germain, Department of Medicine,
develop ESRD; 3) patients with a terminal malignancy Tufts University, 100 Wason Avenue, Suite 200, Springeld,
Massachusetts 01107.
who develop AKI (AKI can be caused by the treatment
of the malignancy, obstruction or invasion of the Copyright 2016 by the American Society of Nephrology
Through the process of consensus building, a shared 2 Do other physicians agree or disagree with the attending
decision and treatment plan is agreed on (SDMG recommen- physicians recommendation to withhold or withdraw
dation 4). In a consensus, each party may not get the plan they dialysis?
2 Is the request for dialysis by the patient or legal agent
originally favored, but they may be convinced by hearing the
medically appropriate?
perspectives put forth by others that a different plan is pre- Consultation with ethics committee or ethics consultants.
ferred. Sometimes the party may not like the consensus plan 2 Has the patient or legal agent been informed that the purpose of
but agrees to accept it. I have seen this in situations where the the ethics consult is to clarify issues of disagreement, and ideally,
HCP may want to initiate or continue dialysis in a patient who to enable resolution?
clearly is getting no benet (or even suffering harm), but the 2 Has the patient or legal agent met with the ethics committee or
nephrologist has decided that he or she cannot ethically order ethics consultants to explain their perspective and reasoning
behind their request for dialysis?
the dialysis treatment. After offering to transfer care to another
2 Can the ethics committee identify the reasons why the patient or
nephrologist, invariably the HCP will accept the clinicians legal agent is resistant to the physicians recommendation to
decision. For this to work, the clinician must show respect forgo dialysis?
for the alternative point of view, listen carefully, and validate 2 Can the ethics committee identify the reasons why the health
the persons views. If the views are based on religious objec- care provider is resistant to the patients or legal agents desire to
tions, then it is sensible to involve a clergy person who may begin or continue dialysis?
help explain the religions positions. A time-limited trial of 2 Has the ethics committee explained in understandable terms to
the patient or legal agent its conclusions and the reasoning
RRT (7) can be undertaken in certain dened situations
behind them?
such as when the benet to be achieved by dialysis is uncertain 2 Can the impasse be resolved with accommodation, negotiation,
or a consensus about the benet of dialysis cannot be reached or mediation?
(SDMG recommendation 7). Documentation
When consensus cannot be reached, the SDMG suggests 2 The physician must document the medical facts and his/her
conict resolution (SDMG recommendation 8; resolving reasons for the recommendation to forgo dialysis and the
conicts about what dialysis decision to make; Box 1 and decision not to agree to the request by the patient or legal agent.
2 The consultants should also document their assessment of the
Figure 1). The SDMG suggests a practical ethical approach
patients diagnosis, prognosis, and their recommendations in
to decision-making. The patients case is analyzed from these the chart.
perspectives (Table 2). An attempt to transfer the patients care
Each perspective is viewed through the six ethical principles in 2 If reconciliation is not achieved through the above procedure
Table 1. The SDMG then recommends the following process for and the physician in good conscience cannot agree to the
ethical decision-making (Table 3). Although the SDMG recom- patient or legal agents request, the physician is ethically and
mends that patients with a terminal prognosis (,6 months) legally obligated to attempt to transfer the care of the patient to
another physician.
should not receive dialysis, the guidelines recognize that palli-
2 Another physician and/or institution may not be found who is
ative dialysis (12) is an option for those who require more time willing to accept the patient under the terms of the familys
to nish their life goals. Such goals include activities for signif- request. Physicians and institutions that refuse to accept the
icant events like a wedding, birth, or graduation. Palliative di- patient in transfer and their reasons should also be documented
alysis allows the patient to transition to a more comfort-oriented in the medical record.
care. The patient may shorten their dialysis treatment time, re- 2 Consider consultation with a mediator, extramural ethics
strict further hospitalizations or procedures, and, when appro- committee, or the ESRD Network in the region.
priate, receive hospice services (SDMG recommendation 9).
Many, if not most, cancer and kidney disease patients There is an increasing recognition that skills in
have two things in common: they have a shortened life palliative and end-of-life care are required for physi-
expectancy and a high symptom burden. Both cians, nurses, and others who treat patients who have
populations benet from early palliative care inter- CKD and ESRD (Table 1). The principal reasons are
ventions. The goal of palliative care is to relieve as follows: rst, they have a signicantly shortened
suffering and to support the best possible quality of life life expectancy; just over half of dialysis patients
for patients and their families, regardless of their stage (52%) are still alive 3 years after the start of RRT (1).
of disease or the need for other therapies, in accor- Second, patients with CKD and ESRD have multiple
dance with their values and preferences. By Medicare comorbidities and consequently many symptoms
regulation, hospice care is limited to patients esti- such as pain, fatigue, itching, and difculty with
mated to be in their last 6 months of life if their disease sleep. In one study, the symptoms of CKD and
follows the normal course. In patients with kidney ESRD patients were found to be comparable (mean
disease and cancer (hereafter kidney-cancer patients) of 10.7) and severity (2). Similarly, cancer patients
who have a higher symptom burden than patients have been found to have a high symptom burden
with either disease alone, the need for meticulous pain compared with age-matched controls, and pain,
and symptom management is even more important to anxiety and depression, and insomnia were noted
maintain quality of life. In addition, there is a unique as most prevalent in a population-based study of
need for advance care planning for these patients, 1,904 cancer survivors (3). An interaction between
most of whom have two life-limiting illnesses. As in cancer status and comorbidity was found, resulting
other populations, for kidney-cancer patients, pain is in a higher symptom burden for patients with co-
one of the most common and severe symptoms. morbidities such as CKD. Thus, it is reasonable to
Multiple studies in kidney patients show that pain is conclude the CKD or ESRD patients with cancer
undertreated. Treatment of pain in patients with stage will have a higher symptom burden than patients
4 and 5 CKD and ESRD is more challenging because with either cancer or kidney disease alone (3).
of the failure of renal excretion of active metabolites Third, the dialysis population has been growing
from some commonly used opioids, which leads to progressively older. The incidence rates of ESRD are
opioid neurotoxicity. The nephrology community has highest in patients 75 years old and older, and they
developed a clinical practice guideline that endorses continue to rise in this group (1). Older patients sur-
the process of shared decision-making in reaching vive the shortest period of time on dialysis, and they
decisions about who should undergo dialysis. It withdraw from dialysis signicantly more often than
recognizes that the burdens of dialysis may sub- younger patients.
stantially outweigh the benets in some patients and In consideration of the high symptom burden
notes that nephrologists may want to recommend and the low survival rate for dialysis patients, the
forgoing dialysis to kidney-cancer patients who are
terminally ill from their cancer.
Correspondence: Alvin H. Moss, Department of Medicine,
This chapter describes the growing interest in the Sections of Nephrology and Supportive Care, West Virginia
nephrology and oncology communities in incor- University School of Medicine, 1195 Health Sciences North,
Morgantown, West Virginia 26506-9022
porating palliative care into the standard treatment
of patients with CKD, ESRD, and cancer. Copyright 2016 by the American Society of Nephrology
Citko J, Moss AH, Carley M, Tolle SW. The National POLST Answer: d is correct. Shared decision-making was intro-
Paradigm Initiative, 2nd ed. FAST FACTS AND CONCEPTS. duced in the 1980s as a process to promote informed consent
Available at: http://www.mypcnow.org/#!blank/k2dh9. Accessed and decisions that adequately take account of patients pref-
January 28, 2016. See www.polst.org for more information. erences. It ts well with an individualized, patient-centered
approach to decision-making and not a disease-oriented ap-
2. Which one of the following medications would be the proach. Shared decision-making for CKD patients encom-
preferred, recommended medication for a patient with passes decisions about whether to start or stop dialysis and
stage 5 CKD and lung cancer with painful metastases to the not just dialysis modality.
bone who describes his pain as aching and 10/10?
a. Morphine References
b. Acetaminophen
c. Codeine Barry MJ, Edgman-Levitan S. Shared decision making: Pin-
d. Fentanyl nacle of patient-centered care. N Engl J Med 366: 780781, 2012
Renal Physicians Association. Shared Decision-Making in the Ap-
Answer: d is correct. Fentanyl is appropriate for severe no- propriate Initiation of and Withdrawal from Dialysis, 2nd Ed.,
ciceptive pain in patients with advanced kidney failure. Rockville, MD, Renal Physicians Association, 2010