SC Connecticut News

Yale School of Medicine's Dennis Moledina, MD, is spearheading a study aimed at addressing kidney inflammation and injury caused by reactions to medications, specifically acute interstitial nephritis. The focus of this research is on the effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors used in cancer treatment.

"Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer care, and more than a million people are eligible to receive these remarkable drugs," stated Moledina, an associate professor in the Section of Nephrology. "However, there is a risk of an immune reaction to these medicines that can manifest in the kidneys as acute interstitial nephritis."

According to Moledina, one in five patients experiences acute kidney injury within the first year of starting cancer immunotherapy. Identifying whether these inhibitors are causing acute interstitial nephritis has significant implications for cancer treatment.

In discussing his research through a Q&A format, Moledina explained how cancer immunotherapy affects the kidneys. He noted that while immunotherapy encourages T cells to attack cancer cells, it can also lead them to target organs like the liver, heart, skin, or kidneys.

Acute kidney injury results from various causes leading to increased creatinine levels in the blood. Determining if this increase stems from checkpoint nephritis or other factors influences treatment decisions. Misdiagnosis could result in unnecessary steroid therapy and interruptions in immunotherapy or missed diagnoses leading to permanent kidney damage.

The multi-center study involving Yale and other prominent hospitals will assess whether the biomarker CXCL9 can distinguish between checkpoint nephritis and other causes of acute kidney injury. The goal is for future tests detecting CXCL9 levels in urine to guide appropriate treatments without disrupting ongoing cancer therapies.

Moledina hopes that findings from this trial will enable patients with acute kidney injuries to continue their cancer treatments with minimal interruption.

For further details on participation or information about the trial's impact on kidneys due to cancer immunotherapy, interested parties are encouraged to reach out directly.

Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Internal Medicine Section of Nephrology remains dedicated to advancing patient care and research within academic nephrology both nationally and internationally.