Table 1.

Drugs used in the setting of cancer and associated with MAHA

Cancer therapyPotential mechanism of TMA and management
Checkpoint inhibitors (eg, ipilimumab) ADAMTS13 deficiency (ADAMTS13 inhibitor present); responds to PEX 
Lenalidomide ADAMTS13 deficiency (anti-ADAMTS13 Ab in 4/5 cases); responds to PEX 
Gemcitabine Dose-dependent endothelial damage, predominantly renal glomerular arterioles/capillaries; may respond to complement inhibition 
Mitomycin C Dose-dependent toxicity, microthrombi in glomerular arterioles/capillaries; may respond to complement inhibition 
VEGF inhibitors (eg, bevacizumab, aflibercept) Dose-dependent toxicity; hypertension; microthrombi limited to glomerular capillaries 
Proteosome inhibitors (eg, bortezomib, carfilzomib) Renal impairment and hypertension with TMA; favorable response to stopping culprit drug; may respond to complement inhibition; role of PEX? 
Pentostatin Dose-dependent toxicity at high doses 
EGFR inhibitor cetuximab Renal TMA with nephrotic syndrome 
Calcineurin inhibitors (eg, ciclosporin, tacrolimus) TMA primarily affects glomerular arterioles; reducing dose or stopping drug can improve or reverse the TMA 
mTOR inhibitors (eg, sirolimus, everolimus) Renal TMA; can occur in patients on calcineurin inhibitor–free regimen 
Platinum-based agents (eg, oxaliplatin) Drug-dependent antibodies against platelets and red cells 
Hormone therapies (eg, tamoxifen) Precipitation of congenital TTP/association with immune TTP; close ADAMTS13 monitoring required if history of TTP 
Cancer therapyPotential mechanism of TMA and management
Checkpoint inhibitors (eg, ipilimumab) ADAMTS13 deficiency (ADAMTS13 inhibitor present); responds to PEX 
Lenalidomide ADAMTS13 deficiency (anti-ADAMTS13 Ab in 4/5 cases); responds to PEX 
Gemcitabine Dose-dependent endothelial damage, predominantly renal glomerular arterioles/capillaries; may respond to complement inhibition 
Mitomycin C Dose-dependent toxicity, microthrombi in glomerular arterioles/capillaries; may respond to complement inhibition 
VEGF inhibitors (eg, bevacizumab, aflibercept) Dose-dependent toxicity; hypertension; microthrombi limited to glomerular capillaries 
Proteosome inhibitors (eg, bortezomib, carfilzomib) Renal impairment and hypertension with TMA; favorable response to stopping culprit drug; may respond to complement inhibition; role of PEX? 
Pentostatin Dose-dependent toxicity at high doses 
EGFR inhibitor cetuximab Renal TMA with nephrotic syndrome 
Calcineurin inhibitors (eg, ciclosporin, tacrolimus) TMA primarily affects glomerular arterioles; reducing dose or stopping drug can improve or reverse the TMA 
mTOR inhibitors (eg, sirolimus, everolimus) Renal TMA; can occur in patients on calcineurin inhibitor–free regimen 
Platinum-based agents (eg, oxaliplatin) Drug-dependent antibodies against platelets and red cells 
Hormone therapies (eg, tamoxifen) Precipitation of congenital TTP/association with immune TTP; close ADAMTS13 monitoring required if history of TTP 

Ab, antibody; EGFR, endothelial growth factor receptor; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin.

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