When is A Kidney Biopsy Indicated During the Treatment of Brain Cancer?

Introduction: Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and is widely used in oncology for its anti-angiogenic properties. However, VEGF inhibition may result in significant nephrotoxicity, including thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). While systemic TMA is well-described, isolated renal-limited TMA remains under recognised.

Case description: We present a 46-year-old woman with WHO grade IV IDH-wildtype EGFR-amplified gliosarcoma. She received second-line treatment with bevacizumab and, after 12 months of therapy, developed progressive hypertension and nephrotic-range proteinuria up to 6.2 g/day, with normal renal function and without anaemia or thrombocytopenia. A kidney biopsy revealed glomerular microangiopathy, and a diagnosis of bevacizumab-associated renal-limited TMA was established. Given the stability of the intracranial disease, the drug was discontinued with complete resolution of proteinuria after seven months.

Conclusion: Anti-VEGF therapy causes renal TMA and may present with nephrotic-range proteinuria associated with a pattern of glomerular microangiopathy. Recognising anti-VEGF-associated nephrotoxicity is essential in the differential diagnosis of proteinuria in cancer patients, and kidney biopsy is fundamental for guiding clinical decisions. Drug cessation led to the complete resolution of proteinuria.

Learning points: Bevacizumab can cause renal-limited thrombotic microangiopathy and may present with nephrotic-range proteinuria, without renal dysfunction.Kidney biopsy is essential to distinguish drug-induced thrombotic microangiopathy from malignancy-associated nephropathies in cancer patients.Early recognition and drug discontinuation can lead to complete proteinuria resolution.