Shahidi Sh, Seirafian Sh, Shayegan Nia B, Adilipoor H,
Volume 64, Issue 9 (1 2006)
Abstract
Background: Long term use of immunosuppressive therapy in transplant
recipients in order to prevent acute and chronic rejection increases the long
term risk of cancer. This study evaluates the incidence of different organs’
cancer after renal transplantation and immunosuppressive therapy.
Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of malignant tumors in renal graft
recipients with more than one year graft survival. Patients were assessed
according to their age, sex, diagnosis of cancer, immunosuppressive drugs,
donors and period of dialysis before transplantation.
Results: Evaluating all existing files in selected private clinics in Isfahan 350
patients were reviewed and 289 of them had entrance criteria. A total of 186
men and 103 women (mean age: 42.17±13.09 years) were included. They were
followed up over a mean period of 52.46±33.24 months. A total of six cases
(2.1%) of cancer were diagnosed in six recipients: All patients with cancer
were male with a mean age of 51.17±14.7 years (range: 26-68 years). Tumor
presented at a mean time of 51 months (rang: 15-82 months) after
transplantation. There were two patients with BCC, two patients with SCC and
two patients with lymphoma. Two patients died of progressive malignant
disease. Age, period of dialysis before transplantation, and using
immunosuppressive and anti-rejection drugs had no significant impact on
development of post transplant malignancy.
Conclusion: The frequency of tumors in these patients is lower than what
reported by other centers, probably due to short period of follow up and low
incidence of cancer in our general population. The risk of malignancy was 28
fold higher among transplant recipients than in general population. High risk
of cancer in this group, confirms the necessity of routine examination for
organ transplant recipients both before and after transplantation.
