Immunotherapy for Cancer in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Difficult Balance Between Risks and Benefits

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant patients. Unfortunately, the use of new anti-cancer therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) in this population has been associated with rejection rates up to 40%, in retrospective studies. The main challenge is to...

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Main Authors: Mónica Bolufer, Jordi Soler, María Molina, Omar Taco, Anna Vila, Manuel Macía
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-11-01
Series:Transplant International
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Online Access:https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/articles/10.3389/ti.2024.13204/full
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author Mónica Bolufer
Mónica Bolufer
Jordi Soler
Jordi Soler
María Molina
María Molina
Omar Taco
Omar Taco
Anna Vila
Anna Vila
Manuel Macía
Manuel Macía
author_facet Mónica Bolufer
Mónica Bolufer
Jordi Soler
Jordi Soler
María Molina
María Molina
Omar Taco
Omar Taco
Anna Vila
Anna Vila
Manuel Macía
Manuel Macía
author_sort Mónica Bolufer
collection DOAJ
description Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant patients. Unfortunately, the use of new anti-cancer therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) in this population has been associated with rejection rates up to 40%, in retrospective studies. The main challenge is to maintain the patient in a delicate immunologic balance in which, while antitumor therapy defeats cancer the graft is safely protected from rejection. Recent clinical trials with ICPI have included kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and the results advocate for a paradigm shift in the management of basal immunosuppression. This suggests that downward adjustments should be avoided or, even better, that this adjustment should be “dynamic.” This review summarizes the latest scientific evidence available in renal transplantation under ICPI treatment: case series, prospective studies, histopathologic diagnosis, immunosuppression regimens and new biomarkers. This article will provide the latest information in on this specific field, allowing nephrologists to gain valuable knowledge and to be aware of new approaches to immunosuppression management in oncological kidney transplant patients.
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language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Transplant International
spelling doaj-art-de7029bbf2fc42a2bc8648dd849f2cd72025-08-20T02:33:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Transplant International1432-22772024-11-013710.3389/ti.2024.1320413204Immunotherapy for Cancer in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Difficult Balance Between Risks and BenefitsMónica Bolufer0Mónica Bolufer1Jordi Soler2Jordi Soler3María Molina4María Molina5Omar Taco6Omar Taco7Anna Vila8Anna Vila9Manuel Macía10Manuel Macía11Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, SpainRedes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) 2024, Badalona, SpainDepartment of Nephrology, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, SpainRedes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) 2024, Badalona, SpainDepartment of Nephrology, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, SpainRedes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) 2024, Badalona, SpainDepartment of Nephrology, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, SpainRedes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) 2024, Badalona, SpainDepartment of Nephrology, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, SpainRedes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) 2024, Badalona, SpainDepartment of Nephrology, Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, SpainRedes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) 2024, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, SpainCancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant patients. Unfortunately, the use of new anti-cancer therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPIs) in this population has been associated with rejection rates up to 40%, in retrospective studies. The main challenge is to maintain the patient in a delicate immunologic balance in which, while antitumor therapy defeats cancer the graft is safely protected from rejection. Recent clinical trials with ICPI have included kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and the results advocate for a paradigm shift in the management of basal immunosuppression. This suggests that downward adjustments should be avoided or, even better, that this adjustment should be “dynamic.” This review summarizes the latest scientific evidence available in renal transplantation under ICPI treatment: case series, prospective studies, histopathologic diagnosis, immunosuppression regimens and new biomarkers. This article will provide the latest information in on this specific field, allowing nephrologists to gain valuable knowledge and to be aware of new approaches to immunosuppression management in oncological kidney transplant patients.https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/articles/10.3389/ti.2024.13204/fullkidney transplantcancercheckpoint inhibitorsimmunotherapyimmunosuppresion
spellingShingle Mónica Bolufer
Mónica Bolufer
Jordi Soler
Jordi Soler
María Molina
María Molina
Omar Taco
Omar Taco
Anna Vila
Anna Vila
Manuel Macía
Manuel Macía
Immunotherapy for Cancer in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Difficult Balance Between Risks and Benefits
Transplant International
kidney transplant
cancer
checkpoint inhibitors
immunotherapy
immunosuppresion
title Immunotherapy for Cancer in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Difficult Balance Between Risks and Benefits
title_full Immunotherapy for Cancer in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Difficult Balance Between Risks and Benefits
title_fullStr Immunotherapy for Cancer in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Difficult Balance Between Risks and Benefits
title_full_unstemmed Immunotherapy for Cancer in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Difficult Balance Between Risks and Benefits
title_short Immunotherapy for Cancer in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Difficult Balance Between Risks and Benefits
title_sort immunotherapy for cancer in kidney transplant patients a difficult balance between risks and benefits
topic kidney transplant
cancer
checkpoint inhibitors
immunotherapy
immunosuppresion
url https://www.frontierspartnerships.org/articles/10.3389/ti.2024.13204/full
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