Chemotherapy-associated nephrotoxicity: a persistent clinical challenge.

Abstract

In the last two years, the Nephrology Unit of our hospital recorded an increasing percentage of consultations corresponding to renal damage related to chemotherapy treatments. This increase could be attributed to more precise diagnoses, the development of targeted therapies, and improved survival rates. Chemotherapy prolongs and improves the lives of people with cancer, but it can also negatively affect renal function. Therefore, it is essential to detect predisposing nephrotoxic factors early, such as pre-existing renal damage, neoplastic renal infiltration, the presence of toxic metabolites, and the tubular transport system used by these drugs, with their consequent accumulation in the renal interstitium. It is essential to implement the renal prevention measures recommended in the context of chemotherapy treatment, to administer these drugs at the recommended doses, and to conduct strict clinical monitoring.