Safe use of nivolumab in a patient with renal cell carcinoma and hepatitis B.

INTRODUCTION: Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors gains a major role in bladder cancer. Because of the treatment's immune modulatory effects, patients may develop hepatitis. Hepatitis B was an exclusion criterion in clinical trials that investigated nivolumab. Therefore, its effects and risk of hepatitis B reactivation in nivolumab are not clinically investigated in renal cell carcinoma patients with hepatitis B. CASE REPORT: In this case report, we presented a metastatic renal cell carcinoma patient who was treated with anti-viral treatment for hepatitis reactivation caused by previous sunitinib therapy. After progression, nivolumab was commenced and the patient was closely monitored with hepatic function tests. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME: Nivolumab was well tolerated and no treatment-related adverse effect occurred. Hepatitis or viral hepatitis reactivation was not detected. DISCUSSION: This case supports the safety of nivolumab in patients with renal cell carcinoma and viral hepatitis.