Hypertransaminasemia in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients receiving immune-based combinations: a meta-analysis

Aims: We performed a meta-analysis to assess the relative risk (RR) of all-grade and grade 3–4 hypertransaminasemia in studies comparing immune-based combinations with sunitinib in treatment-naive patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. Materials & methods: Outcomes of interest included all-grade and grade 3–4 hypertransaminasemia measured as RRs and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: RRs for all-grade hypertransaminasemia were 1.73 (95% CI: 1.25–2.4) and 1.63 (95% CI: 1.25–2.12) in patients receiving immunocombinations and sunitinib, respectively. The pooled RRs for grade 3–4 hypertransaminasemia were 3.24 and 3.04 in patients treated with immunocombinations or sunitinib. Conclusion: Immune-based combinations were associated with higher hypertransaminasemia risk. Physicians should pay attention to these common but overlooked events. Careful monitoring of tolerability remains a crucial need.