Colon and rectal cancer after renal transplantation

Abstract

Increased cancer risk after renal transplantation is believed to be a consequence of continuous immunosuppression. However, the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) after renal transplantation is controversial and has received limited study. Accumulating evidence suggests that colon and rectal cancers have different characteristics in the post-renal transplant patient (PRTP) and should be evaluated separately in transplant registries. This article reviews the current literature evaluating CRC diagnosed in PRTPs, focusing on clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes.

Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer in Renal Transplant Recipients in Korea

“…Additionally, the mean exposure to the immunosuppressive agent is a significant risk factor in transplant recipients. Although a recent study showed that CRC in the transplant recipient developed at an earlier age compared to the general population,9,11 our data showed that age at diagnosis of the transplant recipient was not different from that of the control group. We do not regard younger age as an important risk factor, but long-term exposure to immunosuppression.…”

“…Recent evidence indicates that transplantation patients appear to be at a higher risk for developing CRC 9. Villeneuve, et al11 described an incidence of CRC after renal transplantation, showing 1.49 times higher than the standard incidence.…”

“…A few reports about oncologic outcomes of solid organ cancer after transplantation showed more aggressive and poorer oncologic outcomes than the general population 7,8. However, the clinical research involving colorectal cancer (CRC) is very limited, although the incidence of CRC after renal transplantation is 1.5-2 times higher than the standard incidence 9-11. Accordingly, we evaluated CRC in a large group of post-renal transplant recipients at a single center in Korea over a 25-year period in which the incidence of post-transplant CRC is higher in the Asian population than in the Western population 12,13.…”

Astrocytoma in a renal transplant recipient: A rare case report

“…10 These approaches should start with the screening of donors for cancer, thereby minimizing the required dose of immunosuppressive drugs, 4 the consumption of prophylactic antiviral drugs, 11 and the avoidance of carcinogenic factors such as high sun exposure. 12 Several types of cancers present in renal transplant populations, including skin cancers, 10 posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), multiple myeloma, 13 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 14 Kaposi's sarcoma, 15 colorectal cancer, 16 and renal cell carcinoma. 17 Reported cases of brain tumors in the posttransplantation setting include lymphomas, glioblastomas, and oligodendrogliomas.…”