1. Introduction
1.1. Nephrotoxicity
Nephrotoxicity is an intrinsic adverse effect of certain anticancer drugs. Anticancer drugs have a narrow therapeutic index and therapeutic dose of such drugs usually produces significant nephrotoxicity. The dosage used in clinical trials, mostly, the maximum tolerated dose determined during phase I drug evaluation. But even greater toxicity is expected during curative therapy than during palliative therapy. But cancer patients often exhibit excretory reduced organ function. Modulation of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of these drugs in cancer patients is therefore necessary in order to improve tolerance.1 Cancer patients are particularly liable for the development of renal abnormalities. Interestingly, patients with renal abnormalities who have undergone kidney transplantation are at high risk for malignancy. Clinical symptoms of renal involvement are diverse and harmful. Inspite of the recent advances in understanding the mechanism of anticancer drug and nephrotoxicity, prevention still relies on drug dosage decrease. Hence an active screening of drugs for renal abnormalities for patients treated with anticancer drugs is still a major field of research.2