Ribociclib induced acute kidney injury: A case report

Introduction

Among females, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer. Hormon receptor positive (HR+) subtype constitutes 75% of the diagnosed breast cancers. Combination of the cyclin D-cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitor and endocrine therapy significantly improves overall survival and progression-free survival. Ribociclib is an oral CDK 4/6 inhibitor and some adverse effects are identified. According to MONALEESA 2-3-7 studies, no adverse effect (AE) were reported due to grade 3 or 4 acute kidney injury (AKI) that caused treatment discontinuation.

Case report

We report a ribociclib-induced grade 3 AKI in an elderly woman who was treated for metastatic breast cancer. During first cycle of therapy, she was admitted to the oncology clinic with diagnosis of AKI.

Management and outcome: Ribociclib treatment was discontinued and secondary causes of AKI were excluded. During the follow-up, kidney function values returned to the normal range spontaneously. Ribociclib treatment was re-initiated by reducing the dose (400 mg daily). Despite dose reduction; grade 3 AKI recurred when ribociclib was re-initiated and the drug was permanently discontinued.

Discussion

According to MONALEESA 2-3-7 studies; no AE were reported due to grade 3 or 4 AKI. Despite these studies, the FDA reported that 20% of patients with ribociclib + letrozole combination therapy may have any stage elevation of creatinine. Ribociclib induced creatinine elevations are generally mild (grade 1–2) and can be managed by dose reduction or close monitoring of creatinine levels. We report the first case of grade 3 AKI that caused treatment discontinuation following administration of ribociclib.