Incidence and Risk Factors of Skin Cancer and Preneoplastic Lesions after Autologous and Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Although an increased risk of skin cancer has been documented in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT), there is still a paucity of information regarding its specific risk factors in the contemporaneous era, as well as its frequency after autologous HCT.

The objective of this single-center study was to analyze separately the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of skin cancer and its precursor actinic keratosis (AK) in a large contemporary cohort of allogeneic and autologous HCT recipients during a study period spanning from 2007 to 2023.

This observational, unicentric cohort study included all patients who underwent autologous or allogeneic HCT at a tertiary hospital.

The study included 2042 patients, 1182 allogeneic and 860 autologous. The median follow-up for surviving patients was 61 months (interquartile range, 25-91). Sixty-seven skin cancers were recorded, with a median interval to diagnosis of 35.4 months. The most common cancer lesions detected were basal cell carcinoma (51%) followed by squamous cell carcinoma (31%), and melanoma (13%). The cumulative incidence of skin cancer at 6 years was 4% (95% CI, 2.9-5.3), being 6.1% (95% CI, 3.5-9.6) in autologous and 3.2% (95% CI, 2.2-4.6) in allogeneic HCT recipients (P < .001). Increased recipient age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.6, 95% CI 1.3-2.0, P < .001), male sex (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.6, P = .001), and a history of prior skin cancer (HR 6.3, 95% CI 3.3-12.2, p <0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for skin cancer. Additionally, for allogeneic HCT, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) with mucocutaneous involvement showed higher risk (HR = 3.21, 95% CI = 1.76-5.86, P < .001). Voriconazole use was specifically associated with invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) (P = .007). Twenty-nine additional cases developed AK with a median interval to diagnosis of 31 months following HCT. The 6-year cumulative incidence of AK was 2.2% (95% CI, 2.9-5.3).

Both autologous and allogeneic HCT recipients are at risk of skin cancer, especially those with older age, male sex, chronic GVHD with mucocutaneous involvement, and pretransplant history of skin cancer. Voriconazole was particularly associated to higher invasive SCC rates. These findings underscore the need for ongoing vigilance and implementation of risk-based screening and prevention practices.