Efficacy and Safety of Anti-angiogenic Agents for Cancer Patients With Proteinuria or a History of Proteinuria: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background/aim: The safety and efficacy of anti-angiogenic agents in patients with cancer with proteinuria and a history of proteinuria are not well established. This systematic review aimed to answer these questions.

Materials and methods: We searched three electronic databases for articles published until June 18, 2021. The main outcomes used were "death", "renal impairment", and "proteinuria impairment".

Results: After screening 303 references in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and ICHUSHI-web databases, this review included five studies on renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In patients with metastatic RCC, the hazard ratio of the presence of (or having) proteinuria (1+ or higher) at baseline was 0.82 (0.23-2.97); thus, proteinuria was not significantly associated with the outcome of death. No significant deterioration in kidney function was observed in patients with proteinuria. Although proteinuria at baseline was a significant risk factor for proteinuria progression during and after treatment, most patients maintained grade 1 or 2 proteinuria and continued treatment without dose reduction or discontinuation.

Conclusion: While weak evidence suggests that proteinuria at the start of treatment with anti-angiogenic agents might be a risk factor for worsening proteinuria, it was not significantly associated with death or renal impairment.

Keywords: Anti-angiogenic agents; VEGF; proteinuria; review.