Biopsy-proven acute interstitial nephritis associated with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib: a class effect?

Since their introduction in 2006, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) Sunitinib and Sorafenib have become the standard of care for many patients with renal cancer. They are generally well tolerated and have not been significantly implicated in renal toxicity. We report the first biopsy confirmed occurrence of acute interstitial nephritis in a patient receiving treatment with Sunitinib for metastatic renal cell cancer. However, two previous descriptions of interstitial nephritis related to treatment with TKIs, combined with this current report suggest that TKI therapy could be associated with this rare but life-threatening complication.