Significant risk factors for occurrence of cancer after renal transplantation: a single center cohort study of 1265 cases

Transplant Proc. 2009 Mar;41(2):672-3. doi: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2008.12.013.

Abstract

Occurrence of cancer after renal transplantation remains a major problem, and the second cause of death. We performed a retrospective analysis of first cancer, first skin cancer, and first organ cancer (including posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease [PTLD]) among 1265 cases from 1979 to 2006. The occurrence of cancer was clearly a time-dependent event justifiying the use of Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression methods. The 10-year cumulative incidences of first cancer, first skin cancer, and first organ cancer were 24.6%, 14.5%, and 14.5%, respectively. Recipient age was a major, independent risk factor for the 3 endpoints with a 6% increased relative risk for each year increment (P < .0001). Female gender was also a major, independent risk factor, but only for skin cancer (P = .0002). We could not demonstrate any difference between the immunosuppressive drugs used for induction or maintenance therapy, especially between antithymocyte globulin (ATG) vs anti-CD25, cyclosporine vs tacrolimus, and azathioprine vs mycophenolate mofetil. Large cohorts are needed with strict stratifications for recipient age and gender to detect any difference, if any, among the drugs.

MeSH terms

  • Cadaver
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Incidence
  • Kidney Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Kidney Transplantation / immunology
  • Kidney Transplantation / mortality
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Neoplasms / mortality
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Skin Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Tissue Donors

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Prednisolone