Acute renal failure associated with the new BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib: A case series of 8 patients. Issue 14 (15th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Launay‐Vacher, Vincent; Zimner‐Rapuch, Sarah; Poulalhon, Nicolas; Fraisse, Thibault; Garrigue, Valérie; Gosselin, Morgane; Amet, Sabine; Janus, Nicolas; Deray, Gilbert
• Is Part Of: Cancer. Volume 120:Issue 14(2014)
• Page Start: 2158
• Page End: 2163
• Publication Date: 2014-04-15
• Subjects: vemurafenib -- nephrotoxicity -- renal insufficiency -- acute renal failure -- side effect; Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Cytopathology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.28709
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-543X

Abstract

Abstract : BACKGROUND: Vemurafenib is a BRAF inhibitor that has become the cornerstone of metastatic or inoperable melanoma therapy since its approval in 2011 in the United States and 2012 in Europe. This targeted therapy has shown impressive results in terms of increased progression‐free and overall survival as compared to dacarbazine. The safety profile did not include any renal manifestations at that time. METHODS: This report is the first case series of 8 patients who experienced significant to severe renal insufficiency under vemurafenib treatment. RESULTS: This case series shows that vemurafenib may induce potentially severe acute renal failure, including renal sequelae and persistent kidney disease in some cases. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of vemurafenib on the kidneys. Meanwhile, renal function should be closely monitored in treated patients for early detection of any renal dysfunction occurrence. Cancer 2014;120:2158–2163. © 2014 American Cancer Society . Abstract : Several cases of vemurafenib renal toxicity have been reported in the literature, whereas nephrotoxicity did not appear as a potential side effect of therapy in clinical development of the drug. This is the first case series reporting several cases, with analysis of data available so far, on how such a toxicity may occur.