Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in cancer patients: lessons from the IRMA study group.

Kidney disease has been shown to be highly prevalent in cancer patients in the IRMA studies (Renal Insufficiency and Anticancer Medications). Furthermore, anticancer drugs used in those patients, among which half have abnormal renal function, necessitate dosage adjustment in case of reduced renal function and/or is potentially toxic to the kidneys in the vast majority of cases. Observations performed in IRMA-2 showed that the survival rate at 2 years was significantly lower for patients with KD (aMDRD<60). This reduced survival has been hypothesized to be related to the cardiovascular complications of KD or as a consequence of inappropriate drug dosage adjustment.