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Post-transplantation Malignancy After Kidney Transplantation in Turkey
Y Keles1, S Tekin2, M Duzenli3
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Park Antalya, Antalya, Turkey.
Objective:
Kidney transplantation is the best treatment option for end-stage renal disease patients. Increased incidence of post-transplantation malignancy can be caused by immunosuppressive drugs and some oncogenic infections. The aim of this study is to show the incidence of post-transplantation malignancy in patients who had surgery and were followed up in the Organ Transplant Center, Medical Park Antalya, Antalya, Turkey.
Method:
The study was based on 2100 kidney transplantation patients who had surgery between May 2008 and December 2012 and also on 1900 patients who had surgery by members of our team in other centers and who were followed up routinely. In all of our patients, the type of malignancy, the time that malignancy developed, immunosuppressive regimens, and viral status (Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus) were investigated.
Results:
Malignancy was developed in 30 patients (60% of them were male, median age was 52.1 years). Post-transplantation malignancy development time was a median of 5.1 years. The types of malignancies were as follows: non-melanoma skin cancer in 12 patients (40%), urogenital cancer in 7 patients (24%), breast cancer in 4 patients (14%), lymphoproliferative disease in 3 patients (10%), thyroid cancer in 2 patients (6%), and lung cancer in 2 patients (6%).
Discussion:
In this study, we did not find any increased post-transplantation malignancy risk in our patients. This finding could be due to the low-dosage immunosuppressive protocols that we used.
Insights
This study found no increased cancer risk after kidney transplants, possibly due to low-dose immunosuppression. Researchers analyzed malignancy incidence in transplant patients to assess post-operative risks.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Oncology
- Transplant Surgery
Background:
- Kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment for end-stage renal disease.
- Post-transplant malignancy is a concern, potentially linked to immunosuppression and oncogenic infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of post-transplantation malignancy in kidney transplant recipients.
- To investigate the types and timing of malignancies after kidney transplant surgery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 2100 kidney transplant patients from May 2008 to December 2012.
- Inclusion of an additional 1900 patients transplanted by the same team in other centers.
- Evaluation of malignancy type, development time, immunosuppressive regimens, and viral status (Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus).
Main Results:
- Malignancy developed in 30 patients (1.4% of the total cohort).
- Median age of affected patients was 52.1 years, with 60% being male.
- Most common malignancies included non-melanoma skin cancer (40%), urogenital cancer (24%), and breast cancer (14%).
Conclusions:
- No increased post-transplantation malignancy risk was observed in this patient cohort.
- The use of low-dose immunosuppressive protocols may contribute to the observed lack of increased risk.
- Further research into immunosuppression strategies is warranted to mitigate malignancy risks.
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