Tumour induction as a consequence of immunosuppression after renal transplantation

Immunosuppressed recipients of organ transplants have a higher incidence of carcinoma than the general population. A retrospective analysis was made at the Department of Urology of Bonn University, investigating 236 renal allograft recipients as to the incidence of neoplasms before and after transplantation. Eleven patients developed malignant tumours after transplantation. In 4 out of these 11 patients, case history showed pre-existing malignancies. Two of the 4 patients developed a second tumour, while the other two had tumour progression (latency period 21-77 months). Three of the 4 patients died of their tumours 21, 42 and 77 months after transplantation, whereas one female patient is still alive and free of neoplasms 32 months after transplantation. In 7 out of these 11 patients de novo tumours were diagnosed (latency period 3-88 months). All of them are still alive (NED between 15 and 85 months), six of them with good transplant function. There was no difference to be seen in the incidence of malignancies between kidneys supplied by Eurotransplant (n = 40) and ABO compatible kidneys from our own donors (n = 196). The higher incidence rate of neoplasms in transplant recipients requires high standards in preventive measures. Any suspicious change that may occur in the course of a thorough follow-up of transplant recipients must be removed and examined histologically. Patients with previous malignant diseases must be payed special attention, since they frequently tend to develop another malignant tumour and progression of existing tumours, respectively. As far as immunosuppression is concerned, therapeutic guidelines for the treatment of transplant recipients do not differ from those set up for patients on haemodialysis. Since immunosuppression with increased rates of tumour incidence can also be observed in dialysis patients, the mere fact of increased incidence of neoplasms cannot be taken as an argument against transplantation. With a more or less equal risk of tumour incidence the crucial factor should be the higher quality of life for transplant recipients.