Cancer Screening Recommendations for Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review of Clinical Practice...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Transplantation Medicine
• Clinical Practice Guidelines

Background:

• Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) face elevated risks of cancer development and mortality.
• Existing controversies surround cancer screening in SOTRs due to limited life expectancy and competing health concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the availability, quality, and consistency of cancer screening recommendations in clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for SOTRs.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of bibliographic databases and gray literature identified relevant CPGs.
• The AGREE II tool was used to assess guideline quality.
• Recommendations and supporting evidence were extracted from 13 included guidelines.

Main Results:

• Kidney transplant guidelines were the most common source of screening recommendations, with skin cancer screening being most frequently addressed.
• Some recommendations diverged from general population guidelines, influenced by higher cancer incidence in SOTRs rather than direct screening effectiveness data.
• Key stakeholders, including oncologists and public health experts, were not involved in developing these recommendations.

Conclusions:

• Cancer screening recommendations for SOTRs are inconsistently available and vary significantly based on the transplanted organ.
• Further research is essential to inform evidence-based screening protocols for SOTRs.
• Future guideline development should incorporate input from transplant patients, oncologists, and cancer screening specialists.