Diagnostic and prognostic aspects of kidney function in patients with Cancer

• Grant number: 23/16190-5
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Verônica Torres da Costa e Silva
• Grantee: Verônica Torres da Costa e Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Emmanuel de Almeida Burdmann

Abstract

The sustained increase in cancer incidence combined with a significant improvement in cancer survival led to a substantial expansion in the number of cancer patients undergoing treatment worldwide, including in Brazil. In this scenario, some features of anticancer treatment are becoming increasingly relevant such as kidney disease and its impact on cancer treatment and the prognosis of patients with cancer. The most relevant aspects are: a) validation of filtration markers and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimating equations (eGFR) aiming to provide accurate guidance to adjust dosing of chemotherapy and to determine eligibility for clinical trials; b) assess if errors in the GFR estimation in patients under chemotherapy are associated with worse clinical outcomes; c) assess the impact of body composition (sarcopenia and excess in fat mass) on eGFR equations based on serum creatinine and cystatin C; d) assess the impact of sarcopenia on the survival of patients with cancer; e) assess the determinants of chronic kidney disease progression in patients with cancer; f) assess the impact of reduced GFR on the survival of patients with cancer; g) assess the impact of nephrectomy on GFR in patients with renal cell carcinoma through the validation of a score predictive of GFR decline incorporating data from normal kidney tissue; h) assess the impact of kidney impairment on the survival of patients with multiple myeloma creating a national registry. To achieve these goals, we intend to create a research group in Onco-Nephrology at the Laboratório de Investigação Médica (LIM) 16 from the University of São Paulo School of Medicine with the support of the Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo. (AU)