Malignancy Post-Transplant

• Several studies have shown that the relative incidence of malignancy in the post-transplant population is much higher than in the general population.  One study of >35,000 renal transplant recipients from the Medicare database found the following cancer incidences c/w the general population (Kasiske, Am J of Transplant, 2004):

  §  A twenty-fold increase in nonmelanoma skin cancers, Kaposi's sarcoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphomas

  • A fifteen-fold increase in renal cell cancer
  • A fivefold increase in melanoma, leukemia, and hepatobiliary, cervical, and vulvovaginal cancers
  • A threefold increase in testicular and bladder cancer
  • A twofold increase in common tumors, including colon, lung, prostate, stomach, esophagus, pancreas, ovary, and breast.

(Victoria Kelly MD, 6/9/11)