Using Urine Biomarkers to Detect Kidney Damage in Cancer Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are exploring immune checkpoint inhibitors ICI as a treatment for cancer, focusing on their impact on kidney health. While ICIs have advanced cancer treatment by blocking molecules that suppress the immune response, they can cause side effects including kidney damage, which worsens the outlook for patients. Diagnosing kidney injury from ICI is challenging because current lab tests detect damage only after it has progressed, and kidney biopsies, though informative, are invasive. This study involves measuring specific urinary biomarkers before and after each immunotherapy cycle over one year to detect early or risk signs of kidney damage in cancer patients treated with ICIs. These biomarkers aim to identify subclinical damage and differentiate kidney injury caused by ICIs from other causes. Urine samples are collected before each treatment cycle and one week afterward, with analyses conducted in specialized labs to evaluate kidney function and injury markers. Participants provide their health and treatment history, and their kidney function is monitored using blood and urine tests. The study tracks changes in multiple urinary biomarkers over time to better predict and manage kidney injury during immunotherapy. Data analysis will use various statistical methods to validate these biomarkers as diagnostic tools, potentially improving patient care by enabling earlier detection and personalized treatment adjustments.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Nephrotoxicity