Cancer in patients on dialysis for end-stage renal disease: an international collaborative study

Recommendations for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection in chronic kidney disease: a position statement by the Spanish association of the liver and the kidney

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the main causes of liver cirrhosis worldwide. The long-term impact of HCV infection is highly variable, ranging from minimal histological changes to extensive fibrosis with hepatocellular carcinoma. The development of HCV drugs has increased dramatically in recent years, even in special populations such as chronic kidney disease patients. Classical treatment of chronic hepatitis C was based on the administration of interferon and ribavirin for 24-48 weeks, which was associated with a poor viral response and a high rate of side effects, especially in patients with a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate. The current high availability of the new direct-acting antivirals renders the classification of these agents for this special population necessary. The Spanish Association of the Liver and the Kidney has produced a position statement on the treatment of HCV infection in chronic kidney disease patients since the evidence to guide this treatment is scant and what evidence does exist is weak. The recommendations are based on the results of clinical trials and controlled studies conducted to date, with data published hitherto by the authors of these studies. Since the indications for treatment have been evaluated by other societies or are dependent on internal clinical protocols, the main goal of this position statement is to assist in decision-making when choosing a therapeutic option.

The incidence of urinary tract cancers is related to preserved diuresis: a single-center report

PURPOSE

Residual diuresis progressively decreases with longer dialysis vintage, and higher incidence of renal and urinary tract cancers was often observed in hemodialyzed patients compared to the general population so we hypothesized that patients without preserved residual diuresis have higher risk of renal and urinary tract cancers than patients with preserved residual diuresis.

METHODS

Retrospective clinical data and pathology reports were completed for 307 uremic patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Patients were divided into two subgroups regarding residual diuresis: the first group with residual diuresis < 500 mL, 133 of 173 (76.8%) patients from this group were completely anuric, and the second group with 134 patients with residual diuresis > 500 mL.

RESULTS

Site- and type-specific cancers in our population of ESRD patients were all localized in estrogen-positive receptor organs. The increased risk of all types of urinary tract cancers occurred in the whole group, men and women, when compared to general population. There were a significantly higher number of patients with all types of cancers in the group with residual diuresis < 250 mL compared to patients with residual diuresis > 500 mL. Importantly, all urinary tract cancers were present in patients with residual diuresis < 500 mL.

CONCLUSION

Higher incidence of urinary tract cancers found in ESRD patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis is associated with lost residual diuresis. Residual diuresis in these patients might be considered a risk marker for future urinary tract cancers as well as already established markers.

Pleuroperitoneal Communication and Ovarian Cancer Complicating Peritoneal Dialysis: A Case Report of a Patient with End-Stage Kidney Disease

Peritoneal dialysis has been a widely accepted modality for treating end-stage kidney disease, but a regular dialysis schedule can be seriously disrupted by various comorbid conditions requiring surgical intervention. A 40-year-old woman who had been receiving peritoneal dialysis was sequentially but separately complicated by pleuroperitoneal communication and ovarian cancer. Despite the need for temporary interruption of her peritoneal dialysis schedule, it was successfully resumed after the relevant surgeries for each disease. Several concerns regarding overall postoperative dialytic management strategies, including how to deal with the peritoneal dialysis catheter during the postoperative period as well as how long peritoneal dialysis should be interrupted, which remain an unresolved issue in the field of nephrology, are also discussed.

Outcomes, safety, and feasibility of video-assisted thoracic surgery in lung cancer patients on hemodialysis: a case series

OBJECTIVE

The rate of surgical resection of lung cancer in patients on hemodialysis is expected to increase due to the development of hemodialysis, improved diagnosis of lung cancer, and increases in the number and age of patients. However, studies assessing outcomes of lung resection in these patients are limited. In this retrospective case series, we investigated the safety and efficacy of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for lobectomy or segmentectomy for lung cancer in patients on hemodialysis.

METHODS

Between January 2010 and January 2017, lobectomy or segmentectomy using VATS was performed for seven lung cancer cases in six patients receiving hemodialysis at our institution. There were two female and five male patients, with a median age of 61 years (range 53-76 years). Six patients underwent lobectomy, and segmentectomy and wedge resection were performed in each one case, respectively; systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection (ND2a-2) was performed in six patients.

RESULTS

There were no perioperative deaths in this case series. Median recurrence-free and overall survival rates were 20 months (range 3-82 months) and 31 months (range 3-82 months), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a safe and effective procedure for resection of lung cancer in hemodialysis patients and should be considered after accurate determination of surgical indications and careful perioperative management.

A proof-of-concept study analyzing the clinical utility of fluorine-18-sodium fluoride PET-CT in skeletal staging of oncology patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis

PURPOSE

The quality of conventional bone scintigraphy can be poor in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Fluorine-18-sodium fluoride (F-NaF) PET-computed tomography (CT) has rapid single-pass extraction, fast clearance from the soft tissues and a better target to background ratio. The aim of the present study is to preliminarily assess the superior tracer kinetics of F-NaF in ESRD patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cohort comprising of 13 patients with ESRD (mean age 65.5 years; median age 68.5 years; six men and seven women) and a control group of 20 patients with normal renal function (mean age 64±7.7 years, nine men and 11 women) were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Both sets of patients were referred for osseous staging of malignancy. All patients underwent a PET-CT scan after an injection of 0.06 mCi/kg of F-NaF.

RESULTS

Qualitative analysis of the ESRD and the control group did not show a significant difference. The signal to noise ratio in the ESRD group (26.24±10.5) and the control group was similar (22.06±10.9), P=0.35. The extraction of radiotracer in bone was higher in ESRD with a bone to soft tissue index of 4.03±2.2 versus 2.48±1.0 in control patients (P=0.01). F-NaF PET-CT was positive for bone metastases in three patients and negative in 10 patients. Of the 48 total lesions, 34 (71%) were classified as benign on F-NaF PET-CT, whereas 10 (21%) were classified as malignant and four (8%) were classified as equivocal. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of F-NaF PET-CT were 91, 89.5, 90, 71.4, and 89.7%, respectively (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The image quality of F-NaF PET-CT in patients with ESRD was comparable to imaging in patients with normal renal function. This can potentially translate into better diagnostic performance in patients with ESRD.

Cancer and the kidney: dangereoux liasons or price paid for the progress in medicine?

A long time ago, the links between renal disease and malignancy were observed, however, quite recently, their importance was recognized and 'new' subspecialty in nephrology, namely 'onconephrology' was established. In the XXI century, patients with malignancy make up the most growing number of the subjects seen for nephrology consult and/or critical care nephrology services. A plethora of renal problems may be found in patients with malignancy. They may influence not only their short-term outcomes but also the adequate therapy of the underlying oncological problem. Thus, all these kidney-related issues pose an important challenge for both specialities: oncology and nephrology. In the review a spectrum of acute and chronic renal injury caused by the malignancy is presented as well as the associations between renal disease and cancer. Assessment of kidney function and its importance in patients with malignancy is also discussed as medical oncologists should check the appropriate dose of chemotherapeutic drugs in relation to the actual renal function before prescribing them to the patients. Moreover, effects of kidney function on outcomes in oncology is presented. In addition, nephrology services should better understand both the biology of malignancy with its treatment to become a valuable part treating team to yield the best possible outcome. It is important for nephrology services to be acknowledged and to take an active participation in care of oncology patients.

Screening for prostate cancer in renal transplant candidates: Single-centre experience over 10 years

Objectives:

The purpose of this article is to report 10 years of single-centre experience with prostate cancer screening in renal transplant candidates.

Patients and methods:

This is a single-centre retrospective analysis of results of prostate cancer screening as a part of renal pre-transplant workup. We included all male patients suitable for transplant workup over 10 years. Patients with persistently elevated prostate specific antigen were considered for prostate biopsy. Biopsy results, treatment data and short-term outcomes for patients diagnosed with prostate cancer were collected.

Results:

We identified 542 patients with a mean age of 52 years. Thirty-one (5.7%) patients were referred to a urologist. Twenty-three (74%) of those referred were biopsied. Histological findings for 10 biopsies (44%) were normal, three (13%) had prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm and nine patients (39%) had invasive adenocarcinoma. One case (4%) was inconclusive. All patients with a normal biopsy proceeded with pre-transplant workup. Out of nine patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, five were transplant listed, two were receiving treatment and two were subsequently deceased.

Conclusion:

Prostate specific antigen screening with repeat testing and the use of age-adjusted normal values led to the diagnosis of prostate cancer that had major implications for transplant listing. For the majority of cancers the diagnosis did not deny transplant surgery to patients but only delayed listing for transplant.

Nephroureterectomy increase 5 year survival in patients on dialysis with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma

Background

There is a high incidence rate of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in patients on dialysis. However, the studies about nephroureterectomy (NU) in this high surgical risk group are limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the outcomes of NU in this population.

Results

There were total 931 patients enrolled and 218, 582, 131 patients were non-NU, unilateral and one-stage bilateral NU, respectively. NU provided better 5-year overall survival (66% versus 51% in non-NU, P = 0.001). 19.7% of patients with unilateral NU had successive contralateral NU with a mean interval period of 695 days. Even for the elderly, there were no significant difference in duration of hospitalization, 30- and 90-day mortality between unilateral and bilateral NU.

Materials and Methods

Patients on dialysis with UTUC between January 1998 and December 2012 were assessed from the nationwide cohort of Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. We classified these patients into non-NU and NU groups. In NU group, we analyzed clinical outcomes of patient groups between different NU types and surgical methods.

Conclusions

Although the high surgical risk in patients on dialysis with UTUC, NU provided better 5-year overall survival. One-stage bilateral NU both provides comparable safety profile and avoids 19.7% of successive contralateral NU in less than two years. Even in the elderly, one-stage bilateral NU is safe and feasible.

Management of patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing chemotherapy: recommendations of the Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica (AIOM) and the Società Italiana di Nefrologia (SIN)

Background

The overall risk of some cancers is increased in patients receiving regular dialysis treatment due to chronic oxidative stress, a weakened immune system and enhanced genomic damage. These patients could benefit from the same antineoplastic treatment delivered to patients with normal renal function, but a better risk/benefit ratio could be achieved by establishing specific guidelines. Key considerations are which chemotherapeutic agent to use, adjustment of dosages and timing of dialysis in relation to the administration of chemotherapy.

Methods

We have reviewed available data present in the literature, including recommendations and expert opinions on cancer risk and use of chemotherapeutic agents in patients with end-stage renal disease. Experts selected by the boards of the societies provided additional information which helped greatly in clarifying some issues on which clear-cut information was missing or available data were conflicting.

Results

Data on the optimal use of chemotherapeutic agents or on credible schemes of polychemotherapy in haemodialysed patients are sparse and mainly derive from case reports or small case series. However, recommendations on dosing and timing of dialysis can be proposed for the most prescribed chemotherapeutic agents.

Discussion

The use of chemotherapeutic agents as single agents, or in combination, can be safely given in patients with end-stage renal disease. Appropriate dosage adjustments should be considered based on drug dialysability and pharmacokinetics. Coordinated care between oncologists, nephrologists and pharmacists is of pivotal importance to optimise drug delivery and timing of dialysis.

Cancer in Korean patients with end-stage renal disease: A 7-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

The effectiveness of dialysis on the incidence of cancer in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) remains to be clarified. In this study, we evaluated the incidence rate and type of cancer among patients with ESRD, compared to the general population, through a prospective 7-year follow-up. We also calculated the cumulative incidence rate of cancer associated with ESRD, with stratification to control for the competing risk of death.

METHODS

This prospective observational cohort study was conducted using data from a nationwide study on patients with ESRD in Korea. A total of 5,235 patients, ≥18 years old, with ESRD were identified from the national registry as being treated by dialysis between August 2008 and December 2014. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and cumulative incidence rate of specific cancers were evaluated and compared to the general population.

RESULTS

A total of 5,235 participants were included. During the 7 year observation period, 116 (2.2%) participants had been diagnosed as cancer. The SIR of overall cancer was 0.94 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.72-1.19] and was comparable to the rate for the general population. Although the digestive organs were the most frequent site of a primary site cancer (N = 39, 33.6%), the SIR was highest for urinary tract cancer [4.7, 95% CI, 2.42-8.19]. The five year standardized cumulative incidence of cancer was higher for females than for males, and for non-diabetic compared to diabetic causes of ESRD. We estimated that the five year standardized cumulative incidence was highest [8.4, 95% CI, 5.07-13.75] in patients with ESRD, caused by glomerulonephritis.

CONCLUSION

A screening program should be necessary for urinary tract cancer in Korean patients with ESRD. Cancer screening programs for patients with ESRD in Korea should be emphasized on female patients and patients with non-diabetic ESRD.

Reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 ) at first transurethral resection of bladder tumour is a significant predictor of subsequent recurrence and progression

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate if moderate chronic kidney disease [CKD; estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m² ] is associated with high rates of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) recurrence or progression.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A multi-institutional database identified patients with serum creatinine values prior to first transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT). The CKD-epidemiology collaboration formula calculated patient eGFR. Cox proportional hazards models evaluated associations with recurrence-free (RFS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

In all, 727 patients were identified with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) patient age of 69.8 (60.1-77.6) years. Data for eGFR were available for 632 patients. During a median (IQR) follow-up of 3.7 (1.5-6.5) years, 400 (55%) patients had recurrence and 145 (19.9%) patients had progression of tumour stage or grade. Moderate or severe CKD was identified in 183 patients according to eGFR. Multivariable analysis identified an eGFR of <60 mL/min/1.73 m² (hazard ratio [HR] 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-1.9; P = 0.002) as a predictor of tumour recurrence. The 5-year RFS rate was 46% for patients with an eGFR of ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m² and 27% for patients with an eGFR of <60 mL/min/1.73 m² (P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that an eGFR of <60 mL/min/1.73 m² (HR 3.7, 95% CI: 1.75-7.94; P = 0.001) was associated with progression to muscle-invasive disease. The 5-year PFS rate was 83% for patients with an eGFR of ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m² and 71% for patients with an eGFR of <60 mL/min/1.73 m² (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Moderate CKD at first TURBT is associated with reduced RFS and PFS. Patients with reduced renal function should be considered for increased surveillance.

Rediscovering Beta-2 Microglobulin As a Biomarker across the Spectrum of Kidney Diseases

There is currently an unmet need for better biomarkers across the spectrum of renal diseases. In this paper, we revisit the role of beta-2 microglobulin (β₂M) as a biomarker in patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. Prior to reviewing the numerous clinical studies in the area, we describe the basic biology of β₂M, focusing in particular on its role in maintaining the serum albumin levels and reclaiming the albumin in tubular fluid through the actions of the neonatal Fc receptor. Disorders of abnormal β₂M function arise as a result of altered binding of β₂M to its protein cofactors and the clinical manifestations are exemplified by rare human genetic conditions and mice knockouts. We highlight the utility of β₂M as a predictor of renal function and clinical outcomes in recent large database studies against predictions made by recently developed whole body population kinetic models. Furthermore, we discuss recent animal data suggesting that contrary to textbook dogma urinary β₂M may be a marker for glomerular rather than tubular pathology. We review the existing literature about β₂M as a biomarker in patients receiving renal replacement therapy, with particular emphasis on large outcome trials. We note emerging proteomic data suggesting that β₂M is a promising marker of chronic allograft nephropathy. Finally, we present data about the role of β₂M as a biomarker in a number of non-renal diseases. The goal of this comprehensive review is to direct attention to the multifaceted role of β₂M as a biomarker, and its exciting biology in order to propose the next steps required to bring this recently rediscovered biomarker into the twenty-first century.

Extraction of 223Radium by haemodialysis after treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

AIM

²²³Radium-dichloride (²²³Ra) administration is an upcoming therapeutic option in patients with castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer (mCRPC), whose renal and faecal excretion of ²²³Ra has been primarily estimated from data of a phase-I clinical trial in patients with normal renal function. In the rare case of concomitant renal insufficiency requiring haemodialysis (HD), an estimation of the contamination of dialysate would be beneficial.

METHODS

The excretion of ²²³Ra and its concentration in the dialysate in a patient with mCRPC and end-stage renal disease was examined for six consecutive treatment cycles. Dialysate samples were measured using a commercial system with NaI-scintillation detector.

RESULTS

HD showed a residual activity level in the remaining dialysate. The excreted activity was a median of 46.1 kBq (range = 42.0- 83.4 kBq) and 11.2 kBq (range = 8.4- 19.9 kBq) for the first (24 h post injection p.i.) and second HD (96 h p.i.), respectively. The activity concentration decreased significantly from a median of 4.18 kBq/l (range = 2.98-5.14 kBq/l) to 0.85 kBq/l (range = 0.69- 1.31 kBq/l, p < 0.0001). For all consecutive time points, the activity concentration further decreased significantly (p < 0.0001). The activity concentration of dialysate from HD performed 125.4 h p.i. [95 % confidence interval = 120.5-130.4 h p.i.] reached the threshold for unrestricted waste disposal.

CONCLUSION

The observed extraction of ²²³Ra by HD exceeded the data determined from the phase-I study. The activity concentration in the dialysate observed for the first HD's p.i. was above the threshold for unrestricted disposal of radioactive waste in Germany. Therefore, the specific requirement for waste handling has to be followed to fulfil the radiation protection regulations.

Daunting but Worthy Goal: Reducing the De Novo Cancer Incidence After Transplantation

Solid-organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of developing de novo malignancies compared with the general population, and malignancies become a major limitation in achieving optimal outcomes. The prevention and the management of posttransplant malignancies must be considered as a main goal in our transplant programs. For these patients, immunosuppression plays a major role in oncogenesis by both impairement of immunosurveillance, enhancement of chronic viral infection, and by direct prooncogenic effects. It is essential to manage the recipient with a long-term adapted screening program beginning before transplantation to use a prophylaxis to decrease infection-related cancer, to propose a viral monitoring, and to modulate the immunosuppression toward lower doses especially for calcineurin inhibitors. Indeed, strategies to induce tolerance or to allow a dramatic reduction of the immunosuppression burden are the more promising approaches for the reduction of the posttransplant malignancies.

Reactivation of Latent HPV Infections After Renal Transplantation

Female renal transplant recipients (RTRs) have an increased risk for developing human papillomavirus (HPV)-related (pre)malignant lesions of the genital tract. This study aims to assess the genital prevalence of HPV before and after renal transplantation (RT). In female patients who were counseled for RT at the Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, the Netherlands, gynecological examination was performed at first visit, and 1 and 2 years later. HPV self-sampling and questionnaires on sexual behavior were performed every 3 months. In 65 patients who underwent RT, the high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) prevalence as assessed with the highly sensitive SPF₁₀ -LiPA₂₅ test increased significantly from 19% before to 31% after RT (p = 0.045). Based upon the clinically validated Cobas 4800 HPV test, the hrHPV prevalence increased from 10% before to 14% after RT (p = 0.31). During follow-up, no changes in sexual behavior were reported. Thirty-three patients who did not undergo RT showed a hrHPV prevalence of 21% at study entry and of 27% after 12 months with the sensitive test, and a stable prevalence of 16% with the clinically validated test. The results of this study indicate that activation of latent HPV infections may contribute to the increased risk of HPV-related (pre)malignant lesions in female RTRs.

Cancer risks after solid organ transplantation and after long-term dialysis

Immunosuppression involves an inability to control virus infections and increased incidence of virus-associated cancers. Some cancers without known viral etiology are also increased, but data on exactly which cancer forms are increased has been inconsistent. To provide a reliable and generalizable estimate, with high statistical power and long follow-up time, we assessed cancer risks using comprehensive, population-based registries in two different countries and from two different immunosuppressed patient groups (solid organ transplant recipients (OTRs) and long-term dialysis patients (LDPs)). National registries in Denmark and Sweden identified 20,804 OTRs and 31,140 LDPs that were followed up using national cancer registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) compared to the general population were estimated. We found highly similar results, both for the two different countries and for the two different immunosuppressed cohorts, namely an increased incidence for the following specific cancer forms: Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and cancers of the lip, kidney, larynx and thyroid. The SIR for overall cancer among OTRs was 3.5 [n = 2,142, 95% CI, 3.4-3.7] in Sweden, 2.9 [n = 1,110, 95% CI, 2.8-3.1] in Denmark and 1.6 [n = 1,713, 95% CI, 1.5-1.6] among LDP. The SIR for NMSC among OTRs was 44.7 [n = 994, 95% CI, 42-47.5] in Sweden and 41.5 [n = 445, 95% CI, 37.8-45.5] in Denmark. The increased SIR for NMSC among LDPs was 5.3 [n = 304, 95% CI, 4.7-5.9]). In summary, an increased SIR for a specific, similar set of cancer forms is consistently found among the immunosuppressed. Conceivable explanations include surveillance bias and immunosuppression-related susceptibility to viral infections.

Cancer Risk After Pediatric Solid Organ Transplantation

BACKGROUND

The effects of pediatric solid organ transplantation on cancer risk may differ from those observed in adult recipients. We described cancers in pediatric recipients and compared incidence to the general population.

METHODS

The US transplant registry was linked to 16 cancer registries to identify cancer diagnoses among recipients <18 years old at transplant. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were estimated by dividing observed cancer counts among recipients by expected counts based on the general population rates. Cox regression was used to estimate the associations between recipient characteristics and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) risk.

RESULTS

Among 17 958 pediatric recipients, 392 cancers were diagnosed, of which 279 (71%) were NHL. Compared with the general population, incidence was significantly increased for NHL (SIR = 212, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 188-238), Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR = 19, 95% CI = 13-26), leukemia (SIR = 4, 95% CI = 2-7), myeloma (SIR = 229, 95% CI = 47-671), and cancers of the liver, soft tissue, ovary, vulva, testis, bladder, kidney, and thyroid. NHL risk was highest during the first year after transplantation among recipients <5 years old at transplant (SIR = 313), among recipients seronegative for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) at transplant (SIR = 446), and among intestine transplant recipients (SIR = 1280). In multivariable analyses, seronegative EBV status, the first year after transplantation, intestine transplantation, and induction immunosuppression were independently associated with higher NHL incidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric recipients have a markedly increased risk for many cancers. NHL constitutes the majority of diagnosed cancers, with the highest risk occurring in the first year after transplantation. NHL risk was high in recipients susceptible to primary EBV infection after transplant and in intestine transplant recipients, perhaps due to EBV transmission in the donor organ.

Gastrointestinal Pathologies in Patients After Successful Renal Transplantation-A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

The beneficial effect of kidney transplantation in patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy owing to chronic kidney disease is well known and accepted. Kidney transplantation protects the patient from complications that may develop during chronic dialysis. Unfortunately, there is also evidence that kidney transplant patients are more prone to developing cancer than healthy persons. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal pathologies in patients after kidney transplantation.

METHODS

Adult patients after kidney transplantation, who are under the care of the Outpatient Department of Nephrology in Gdańsk, received alarm symptom questionnaires and referral for testing for the presence of fecal occult blood. Then, in 45 selected patients (29 men and 16 women) endoscopic examination was performed. Mean age was 57.6 ± 10.1 (range, 35-83) years.

RESULTS

Out of ∼940 patients after kidney transplantation, resting under supervision of outpatient department, 181 patients completed the questionnaire and 100 gave a stool sample for testing: 32 results were positive. After analyzing the questionnaires and stool results, 88 patients were qualified for further investigation. The endoscopic examination had been performed so far in 45 patients and revealed gastritis and/or duodenitis in 33 patients, diverticular colon disease in 18, esophagitis in 8, colon polyps in 14, stomach polyps in 3, inflammatory bowel disease in 7, and cancers in 3.

CONCLUSIONS

The preliminary results indicate that patients after kidney transplantation have significant risk of gastrointestinal pathologies and require detailed diagnostic endoscopy.

Comparison of the incidence of skin cancers in patients on dialysis and after kidney transplantation

INTRODUCTION

Kidney transplant (KTx) patients on immunosuppressive therapy are predisposed to the development of infections and cancers.

AIM

To compare the incidence and type of malignant skin lesions in kidney transplant patients and the dialyzed population based on the initiated dermatologic screening.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 598 patients: 486 kidney transplant recipients and 112 patients on maintenance dialysis. All the patients underwent dermatological examination. Only histologically confirmed cancers were included in this study. Age, gender and immunosuppressive therapy administration were also considered. Patients were followed up by a dermatologist for a period of 5 years.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight skin cancers; 39 basal cell carcinomas (BCC), 13 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), 1 Bowen disease, 2 Kaposi sarcoma, 1 malignant melanoma, 1 Merkel cell carcinoma, and 1 fibrosarcoma protuberans were diagnosed in 30 (6.2%) kidney transplant patients, and 8 lesions (7 BCC and 1 SCC) were found in 4 (3.6%) patients on dialysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The initiated dermatologic screening program indicates that the risk of skin cancer incidence in post kidney transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy was significantly higher than in patients on dialysis.

Relationship Between Mortality and Cancer-Bearing Status at Time of Dialysis Initiation

Patients with malignancy are reported to have poorer prognosis than those without malignancy. When patients with malignancy develop end-stage kidney disease, clinicians must determine treatment with consideration of prognosis. Furthermore, malignancy is sometimes found at time of dialysis initiation. However, prognosis of patients with malignancy at time of dialysis initiation has not been investigated. A total of 1524 patients with chronic kidney disease who initiated dialysis at 17 centers participating in the Aichi Cohort Study of Prognosis in Patients Newly Initiated into Dialysis were included. Patients initiated dialysis between October 2011 and September 2013. Mortality rates were compared between patients with and without malignancy. Types of malignancy and respective prognoses also were assessed. The study included 1030 men and 492 women with a mean age of 67.5 ± 13.1 years. Of these, 92 had malignancy and 1430 did not; 45.7% of the former group and 16.0% of the latter group died by March 2015 (P < 0.01). Even after adjusting for various factors, presence of malignancy remained an independent risk factor for mortality (P < 0.01). Patients with performance status (PS) of 0 had significantly lower mortality (P < 0.01). Patients with malignancy at time of dialysis initiation had poor prognosis. Therefore, presence of malignancy should be taken into consideration when patients initiate dialysis. In patients with malignancy, better PS was associated with better prognosis.

De novo cancer in patients on dialysis and after renal transplantation: north-western Italy, 1997-2012

BACKGROUND

Kidney transplant recipients (KTR) are known to have a higher risk of cancer than the general population, especially of malignancies related to oncogenic viral infections. This study assessed the incidence of de novo malignancies (DNMs) in patients receiving kidney transplantation and in dialysis patients (DP) on the waiting list for transplantation at the same centre. The aim was to quantify the contribution of post-transplant immunosuppression to the underlying risk of developing a DNM in dialysis patients on the waiting list for kidney transplant.

METHODS

Cancer incidence rates were computed using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method. The number of DNMs observed in both groups was compared to the expected incidence in the general Italian population through calculation of the standardized incidence ratios (SIR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). To identify risk factors, incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% CIs were computed using Poisson regression analysis. The comparison of incidence rates between the two cohorts was also performed using age standardized incidence rates (ASR) and their ratio (age standardized rate ratio, ASRR).

RESULTS

In 4858 person-years (PYs) of observation, 75 out of 735 KTR were diagnosed with DNM: 57 solid neoplasms, 13 post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), and 12 Kaposi sarcomas (KS). The overall incidence was 17.5 cases/10³ PYs, resulting in a 2.1-fold increased risk. Twenty-four out of 912 DP, over a follow-up of 2400 PYs, were diagnosed with a solid neoplasm, but none had PTLD or KS. The use of induction therapy after transplant was associated with a significant increased risk of KS (IRR: 3.52; 95% CI 1.04-11.98, p < 0.05). ASRR for all cancers and for solid cancers only was 1.84- and 1.19-fold higher in KTR, respectively, than in the general population. The overall incidence in DP was 10.0 cases/10³ PYs, with a 1.6 significantly increased cancer risk compared to the general population.

CONCLUSION

Our study confirms the increased risk of cancer after transplantation and during dialysis, but showed that virus-related cancers only occur after post-transplant immunosuppression.

2017 update on the relationship between diabetes and colorectal cancer: epidemiology, potential molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications

Worldwide deaths from diabetes mellitus (DM) and colorectal cancer increased by 90% and 57%, respectively, over the past 20 years. The risk of colorectal cancer was estimated to be 27% higher in patients with type 2 DM than in non-diabetic controls. However, there are potential confounders, information from lower income countries is scarce, across the globe there is no correlation between DM prevalence and colorectal cancer incidence and the association has evolved over time, suggesting the impact of additional environmental factors. The clinical relevance of these associations depends on understanding the mechanism involved. Although evidence is limited, insulin use has been associated with increased and metformin with decreased incidence of colorectal cancer. In addition, colorectal cancer shares some cellular and molecular pathways with diabetes target organ damage, exemplified by diabetic kidney disease. These include epithelial cell injury, activation of inflammation and Wnt/β-catenin pathways and iron homeostasis defects, among others. Indeed, some drugs have undergone clinical trials for both cancer and diabetic kidney disease. Genome-wide association studies have identified diabetes-associated genes (e.g. TCF7L2) that may also contribute to colorectal cancer. We review the epidemiological evidence, potential pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic implications of the association between DM and colorectal cancer. Further studies should clarify the worldwide association between DM and colorectal cancer, strengthen the biological plausibility of a cause-and-effect relationship through characterization of the molecular pathways involved, search for specific molecular signatures of colorectal cancer under diabetic conditions, and eventually explore DM-specific strategies to prevent or treat colorectal cancer.

The world of targeted therapies in kidney cancers: pitfalls, tips and tricks

In the past few years, metastatic renal cell carcinoma prognosis was improved by the development of molecular targeted therapies (TTs). At the metastatic stage, the tolerance to treatment is a major concern, not only because of the challenge of the efficacy/toxicity ratio improvement but also because of the importance of an optimal adherence to oral treatments. The present case series relates the issues of dealing with uncommon and sometimes never described side effects of sunitinib and sorafenib. The first case report deals with grade 3 vomiting during hemodialysis with concurrent administration of sunitinib. The second case is an iterative gout attack induced by sunitinib. The third case presents a grade 3 scalp dysesthesia with sorafenib. The fourth case includes an astonishing efficacy of metronomic (ie, low doses during a long period of time) bevacizumab in monotherapy. Multidisciplinary management and systematic reporting of unexpected efficacies and toxicities are needed to better understand TTs real therapeutic index. Although TTs revolutionized metastatic renal cell cancer prognosis, they also brought about previously unknown side effects. Identification and management of these off-target effects may be tricky, and therefore, comedication must be wisely chosen. As the physiopathology of these side effects is still unclear, multidisciplinary management and systematic reporting of toxicities are essential.

Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic considerations for cancer patients undergoing hemodialysis

INTRODUCTION

The increased incidence of cancer in hemodialysis patients has been discussed since the mid-70s. Today, physicians regularly encounter situations where they must manage the prescription of anticancer drugs in hemodialysis patients. Areas covered: Hemodialysis patients are at risk of dose-related toxicities due to pharmacokinetic modifications. Hemodialysis patients are at risk of therapeutic drug removal during their hemodialysis session, which may result in a loss of efficacy. In the advent of novel immunotherapies, particularly tumor vaccines, there is an increased theoretical risk of pharmacodynamic modification. Indeed, pharmacodynamic modifications have already been reported for viral vaccines. Expert opinion: It is important to consider all of the potential pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modifications before prescribing anticancer drugs in hemodialysis patients. However, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modification should not be considered a contraindication for anticancer drug use in hemodialysis patients, rather, clinicians should be aware of the need individualize treatment according to available recommendations.

Chemotherapy for primary mediastinal yolk sac tumor in a patient undergoing chronic hemodialysis: a case report

Background

The safety and efficacy of chemotherapy for patients undergoing concomitant hemodialysis have not been fully established and optimal doses of anti-cancer drugs and best timing of hemodialysis remains unclear. Although chemosensitive cancers, such as germ cell tumors, treated with chemotherapy should have sufficient dose intensity maintained to achieve the desired effect, many patients with cancer undergoing hemodialysis might be under-treated because the pharmacokinetics of anti-cancer drugs in such patients remains unknown.

Case presentation

We describe a 31-year-old Japanese man with a mediastinal yolk sac tumor treated with surgery followed by five cycles of chemotherapy containing cisplatin and etoposide while concomitantly undergoing hemodialysis. The doses of these agents used in the first cycle were 50% of the standard dose of cisplatin (10 mg/m²) and 60% of the standard dose of etoposide (60 mg/m²) on days 1 through to 5; the doses were subsequently escalated to 75% with both agents. Hemodialysis was started 1 hour after infusions of these agents. Severe hematological toxicities were observed despite successful treatment. During treatment with concurrent hemodialysis, pharmacokinetic analysis of cisplatin was performed and its relationship with adverse effects was assessed. Compared with patients with normal renal function, the maximum drug concentration was higher, and concentration increased in the interval between hemodialysis and the subsequent cisplatin infusion, resulting in a higher area under the curve despite a reduction in the dose to 75% of the standard regimen.

Conclusions

Because of the altered pharmacokinetics pharmacodynamics status of patients with renal dysfunction undergoing hemodialysis, pharmacokinetics pharmacodynamics analysis is deemed to be helpful for effective and safe management of chemotherapy in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Long-term outcomes of complete urinary tract exenteration for dialysis patients with urothelial cancer

PURPOSE

To survey long-term outcomes of dialysis patients with urothelial cancers who have undergone complete urinary tract exenteration (bilateral nephroureterectomy and cystectomy).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed our patients with urinary tract urothelial cancer. Forty-two dialysis patients who underwent complete urinary tract exenteration were enrolled in our study. Seventeen patients had undergone one-stage complete urinary tract exenteration, and twenty-five patients had undergone multi-stage surgery. We reviewed the demographic, clinical, surgical, and pathological data to determine the clinical and pathologic variables that affected the survival between the two groups.

RESULTS

Baseline demographics were comparable in both groups. There was no significant difference in age, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, Charlson index, or body mass index between the two groups. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference in estimated blood loss (1280 vs. 1440 ml) or total hospital stay (31 vs. 21 days). Simultaneous upper and lower tract tumors were noted in one-stage CUTE group In comparison with multi-stage surgery, one-stage surgery was associated with a higher complication rate (58.8 vs. 28%). Twenty-two patients were still alive at the end of the study, and 20 had died. The median survival period after confirmation of complete urinary tract exenteration status was 27.5 months. The overall survival was the same between the two groups. The Charlson comorbidity index was a mandatory indicator to predict long-term survival outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

In dialysis patients with urothelial cancers who have undergone complete urinary tract exenteration, one-stage complete urinary tract exenteration had a high perioperative complication rate. The Charlson comorbidity index was a mandatory indicator to predict long-term survival outcome.

Association of TSH Elevation with All-Cause Mortality in Elderly Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a widespread condition in the global population and is more common in the elderly. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level increases with aging, and hypothyroidism is highly prevalent in CKD patients. However, the relationship between low thyroid function and mortality in CKD patients is unclear. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective cohort study to examine the relationship between TSH elevation and all-cause mortality in elderly patients with CKD. This retrospective cohort study included individuals ≥65 years old with CKD (n = 23,786) in Taipei City. Health examination data from 2005 to 2010 were provided by the Taipei Databank for Public Health Analysis. Subjects were categorized according to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level as follows: low normal (0.34<TSH<1.074 mIU/L), middle normal (1.074≤TSH≤2.46 mIU/L), high normal (2.46<TSH<5.2 mIU/L), elevated I (5.2≤TSH<10 mIU/L), and elevated II (TSH≥10 mIU/L). Risk of mortality was evaluated using a Cox proportional hazard regression model adjusted for sex, age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, CKD stage, serum albumin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, uric acid, hemoglobin, body mass index, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, smoking, alcohol consumption, and history of cardiovascular disease (coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, cerebral vascular disease), history of cancer, and history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Our results showed that compared to the reference group (middle normal TSH), the risk of all-cause mortality was increased in the elevated I group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.45) and elevated II group (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.00–1.69). We found a significant association between TSH elevation and all-cause mortality in this cohort of elderly persons with CKD. However, determining the benefit of treatment for moderately elevated TSH level (5.2–10 mIU/L) in elderly patients with CKD will require a well-designed randomized controlled trial.

Immunogenicity and safety of quadrivalent human papillomavirus types 6/11/16/18 recombinant vaccine in chronic kidney disease stage IV, V and VD

Background

Up to >80% of sexually active adults will become infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) during their lifetime. Persistent HPV infection can result in cervical, vulvovaginal, penile and anogenital cancer. Clinical studies have shown the efficacy of three doses of quadrivalent HPV-6/11/16/18 L1 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccination, at Day 0, Month 2 and Month 6, to lower the occurrence of HPV infection and its complications. However, immunogenicity and safety of the HPV vaccine have not been proven in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population.

Methods

Sixty CKD stage IV, V and VD patients were enrolled for quadrivalent HPV-6/11/16/18 vaccination. A dose of vaccine was given at Day 0, Month 2 and Month 6. Each dose contained 20 μg HPV-6 L1 VLP, 40 μg HPV-11 L1 VLP, 40 μg HPV-16 L1 VLP and 20 μg HPV-18 L1 VLP, along with 225 μg of amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate adjuvant. HPV type-specific antibody response to neutralizing epitopes on HPV-6/11/16/18 was performed by multiplexed, competitive Luminex® immunoassays (cLIA) at Day 0 and Month 7.

Results

At Day 0, anti-HPV seropositivity was 0-6.6% depending on HPV genotype. Patients who received three doses of vaccine had 98.2, 100, 100 and 98.2% seropositivity for genotypes 6/11/16/18, respectively. The average cLIA at Month 7 for genotypes 6/11/16/18 were 928.4 ± 231.1, 1136.1 ± 264.6, 6951.0 ± 1872.3 and 2196.3 ± 761.2 milliMerck units (mMu)/mL, respectively. No serious vaccine-related adverse events were observed.

Conclusions

Quadrivalent HPV vaccine has been well tolerated, is safe and provides excellent immunogenicity in late-stage CKD.

Epidemiology of cancer in end-stage renal disease dialysis patients: a national cohort study in Taiwan

The incidence and mortality of site-specific cancers in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on maintenance dialysis have been rarely studied for Asian populations. We tapped Taiwan`s National Health Insurance Research Database to identify and recruit patients starting maintenance dialysis between 1999 and 2004. They were followed from initiation of dialysis until death, discontinuation of dialysis, or the end of 2008. We calculated the survival rate and mortality risk of dialysis patients with cancer. Of 40,833 dialysis patients, 2352 (5.8%) had been newly diagnosed with cancer. Being older, being male, and having chronic liver disease were factors associated with a higher risk for new cancer in ESRD dialysis patients. In men, liver cancer (20.63%) was the most frequent, followed by cancers of the bladder (16.88%) and kidney (11.61%). In women, bladder cancer (25.57%) was the most frequent, followed by cancers of the kidney (16.31%) and breast (11.20%). The 5-year survival rates for kidney and bladder cancer were higher than for other cancers; the survival rates for lung, stomach, and liver cancer were lower. In conclusion, the distribution of site-specific cancer was different between men and women in patients with ESRD on dialysis. More attention should be paid to teaching dialysis patients how to avoid the well-known cancer risks and carcinogens and individualized regular cancer screenings.

Micronuclei and other nuclear anomalies in buccal epithelial cells of children with chronic kidney disease

The objective of this study was to reveal the likely genomic instability in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) using micronucleus (MN) assay on buccal epithelial cells (BEC). We investigated the frequencies of micronuclei and other nuclear anomalies, such as nuclear buds, binucleated cells, condensed chromatin, and karyorrhectic and pyknotic cells in BEC. Children with CKD were grouped as follows: children in the pre-dialysis (PreD) stage (N=17), children on regular haemodialysis (HD) (N=14), and children who have undergone transplantation (Tx) (N=17). As a control group, twenty age- and gender-matched healthy children were selected. The MN frequency in BEC of all groups of children with CKD was significantly elevated (5- to 7-fold) as compared to the control group (p<0.001). In contrast, the frequencies of nuclear buds were not significantly higher in the study groups compared to the control group. The frequencies of binucleated cells and condensed chromatin cells were significantly higher in all subgroups of children with CKD relative to the control group (p<0.001). Our results show that the BEC of pediatric PreD, HD, and Tx patients with CKD display increased cytogenetic, cytokinetic, and cytotoxic effects. They also point to the sensitivity and usefulness of the BEC MN assay in the assessment of genetic susceptibility of patients with CKD.

Risk of Renal Cell Carcinoma Among Kidney Transplant Recipients in the United States

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common malignancy following kidney transplantation. We describe RCC risk and examine RCC risk factors among US kidney recipients (1987-2010). The Transplant Cancer Match Study links the US transplant registry with 15 cancer registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were used to compare RCC risk (overall and for clear cell [ccRCC] and papillary subtypes) to the general population. Associations with risk factors were assessed using Cox models. We identified 683 RCCs among 116 208 kidney recipients. RCC risk was substantially elevated compared with the general population (SIR 5.68, 95% confidence interval 5.27-6.13), especially for papillary RCC (SIR 13.3 versus 3.98 for ccRCC). Among kidney recipients, RCC risk was significantly elevated for blacks compared to whites (hazard ratio [HR] 1.50) and lower in females than males (HR 0.56). RCC risk increased with prolonged dialysis preceding transplantation (p-trend < 0.0001). Risk was variably associated for RCC subtypes with some medical conditions that were indications for transplantation: ccRCC risk was reduced with polycystic kidney disease (HR 0.54), and papillary RCC was increased with hypertensive nephrosclerosis (HR 2.02) and vascular diseases (HR 1.86). In conclusion, kidney recipients experience substantially elevated risk of RCC, especially for papillary RCC, and multiple factors contribute to these cancers.

Anemia management in cancer patients with chronic kidney disease

Anemia is a common complication of cancer and chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with decreased physical performance as well as poor prognosis for life expectancy. Renal and cancer-induced anemia share common features regarding pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies. It is typically treated with iron substitution, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) and in refractory cases with red blood cell transfusions. However, studies of the past few years unveiled numerous setbacks in the use of ESAs. These included a higher risk of cerebrovascular events and increased mortality without the improvement of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CKD. Moreover, particularly negative results were observed in patients with previous cancer history under ESA therapy. These unfavorable findings have forced the clinicians to reevaluate the management of renal anemia. This led to decrease of ESA usage, while iron substitution and alternative therapeutic options gained more significance. Iron supplementation is also accompanied with certain risks ranging from gastrointestinal complications to severe allergic reactions and increased rate of infections. Furthermore, the evaluation of the long-term safety of excessive iron therapy is still lacking, especially in CKD patients with cancer. In the absence of these clinical studies, this review aims to summarize the currently available therapeutic strategies in anemia management of CKD patients with concomitant cancer.

Renal Squamous Cell Carcinoma of a Native Kidney After Renal Transplant: A Case Report

BACKGROUND

Renal squamous cell carcinoma is a rare primary tumor of the kidney that rapidly invades local structures and has a poor prognosis. Presentation is usually nonspecific and is associated with renal stone disease and chronic infection. Immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients are more likely to develop a malignancy than the general population. Squamous cell carcinoma of the kidney in the context of a renal transplant and long-term immunosuppression has not previously been described in the literature.

CASE REPORT

A 46-year-old white man with previous renal stones and recurrent urinary infections underwent a right nephrectomy and subsequent renal transplantation owing to failure of the remaining kidney. Five years posttransplant, an abdominal ultrasound scan was performed owing to recurrent urinary infections and ongoing pyuria. This was reported as normal, but he later developed a discharging sinus in his left flank. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a tracking perinephric abscess with an associated cystic lesion of the left kidney. A left nephrectomy was performed and histologic examination suggested an invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis. The patient later required major surgery for chronic infection, and further imaging revealed metastatic disease, resulting in the decision to manage palliatively.

CONCLUSION

Given the nonspecific nature of the symptoms and the poor prognosis, health care professionals should have a lower threshold for diagnostic imaging in these patients. Abdominal ultrasonography was unhelpful and only a later CT scan revealed the underlying malignancy. This should be expedited if there is a persistent abnormality on urinalysis. Once diagnosed, a change in immunosuppressant regime to include sirolimus should be considered.

Epidemiology of Renal Cell Carcinoma

The increasing incidence of RCC in most populations may in part be due to increasing numbers of incidentally detected cancers with new imaging methods. Further, the increase is not only limited to small local tumours but also includes more advanced tumours, which may to some part explain the still high mortality rates. The variation in incidence between populations may have several other explanations. Traditionally the starting point has included thoughts of environmental exposures, which so far have only in part explained the causes of RCC, by means of cigarette smoking and obesity, which may account for approximately 40% of cases in high-risk countries (Table 2). Further, the genetic variations may be of importance as a cause of the difference between populations. Continued research in RCC is needed with the knowledge that nearly 50% of patients die within 5 years after diagnosis. The further search for environmental exposures should take in account the knowledge that RCC consists of different types with specific genetic molecular characteristics. These genetic alterations have in some cases been suggested to be associated with specific exposures. Furthermore, there might exist a modulating effect of genetic polymorphisms among metabolic activation and detoxification enzymes. Hence, a further understanding of the genetic and molecular processes involved in RCC will hopefully give us a better knowledge how to analyse and interpret exposure associations that have importance for both initiation and progression of RCC.

Risk of skin cancer in patients on chronic haemodialysis: a nationwide, population-based study in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Patients on chronic haemodialysis (HD) have a higher incidence of cancer. However, the risk of skin cancer in this population has rarely been investigated.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and cutaneous melanoma in patients on chronic HD and to explore the associated risk factors.

METHODS

We performed retrospective cohort and nested case-control studies using records in the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database between 1999 and 2013. The HD cohort included 79 668 incident patients on HD, for whom the standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for incident NMSC and cutaneous melanoma were determined. In the nested case-control study, patients on HD with NMSC were matched to those without skin cancers. The impact of various factors on the development of NMSC was determined by conditional logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among the 79 668 patients on HD, 248 cases of NMSC and 22 cases of cutaneous melanoma occurred after a mean 4·95 years of follow-up. The SIRs for NMSC and cutaneous melanoma in patients on HD were 1·58 (95% confidence interval 1·39-1·79) and 1·44 (95% confidence interval 0·91-2·19), respectively. Of the patients on HD, a higher risk of NMSC was found in men (1·5-fold), South Taiwan residents (twofold) and patients with uraemic pruritus after long-term antihistamine treatment (1·53-fold). However, the incidence of NMSC was not increased in patients with uraemic pruritus receiving ultraviolet B phototherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients on chronic HD are at higher risk of NMSC. Uraemic pruritus further increases the risk of NMSC, which might be prevented by ultraviolet B phototherapy.

Weekly paclitaxel therapy for gastric cancer in patients with renal dysfunction: A case report

A 57-year-old woman was admitted to National Defense Medical College hospital for treatment of gastric cancer with pyloric stenosis. She had been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) 10 years prior, but received no hemodialysis. Because of peritoneal dissemination, a palliative distal gastrectomy was performed. In consideration of renal dysfunction, we decided for chemotherapy with paclitaxel, but not S-1 plus cisplatin regimen which is renal toxic agents. On the 29th postoperative day, chemotherapy using paclitaxel was initiated at a dose of 80 mg/m². Paclitaxel was administered weekly on days 1, 8, and 15 on a 28-day cycle. The patient tolerated 13 courses of this treatment without any severe adverse effect, such as exacerbation of renal function. Despite the gradual increase in the level of tumor markers, metastases were not detected via radiography during the clinical course. Moreover, renal function was maintained for the duration of the clinical course. To date, standard chemotherapeutic treatment for patients with CKD has not been established. We conclude that weekly paclitaxel is a suitable treatment regimen for patients with renal failure requiring chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.

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In Japan, the standard therapy for unresectable advanced gastric cancer is S-1 and cisplatin combination chemotherapy. However, the pharmacodynamics of these agents in patients with renal dysfunction remains unclear.

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We herein present a case of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in which the patient was safely given paclitaxel to treat gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination.

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Weekly paclitaxel therapy is feasible and effective for patients with advanced gastric cancer and renal impairment.

Evaluation of Basal Renal Function in Treatment-naïve Patients with Malignancy and Comparison with Age Matched Healthy Control

There is a paucity of data regarding the prevalence of renal insufficiency in patients with malignancy at baseline before initiation of therapy. The published studies based on patient with prior exposure to cytotoxic therapy have reported a high prevalence of renal impairment. However, these studies have utilized creatinine-based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) prediction equations to assess the level of renal function. These equations are known to have some serious limitations in reliably predicting GFR. The aim of the study was to accurately document the state of renal function in treatment-naïve cancer patients and compare them against age-matched healthy controls using a reference "creatinine independent" GFR measurement technique. Age-matched comparison of GFR of 1,373 treatment-naïve cancer patients and 1,089 healthy controls were done retrospectively. There was no difference in GFR between cancer and healthy group when analyzed under various age groups, though the overall mean GFR in healthy controls was significantly higher compared to cancer group (80.14 ± 17.63 mL vs 74.43 ± 20.84, P 0≤ 0.01), whereas the mean age in control arm was significantly lower compared to cancer group (44.24 ± 17.63 years vs. 50.70 ± 20.84 years, P ≤ 0.01). Treatment-naïve cancer patients have identical renal function to their healthy age-matched peers. Malignancy per se does not directly lead to the decline in filtration capacity of the kidneys.

Cancer risk in patients receiving renal replacement therapy: A meta-analysis of cohort studies

It has been reported that patients receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT), including dialysis and kidney transplantation, tend to have an increased risk of cancer; however, studies on the degree of this risk have remained inconclusive. The present meta-analysis was therefore performed to quantify the cancer risk in patients with RRT. Cohort studies assessing overall cancer risk in RRT patients published before May 29, 2015 were included following systematic searches with of PubMed, EMBASE and the reference lists of the studies retrieved. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to pool standardized incidence rates (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity tests, sensitivity analyses and publication bias assessment were performed. A total of 18 studies including 22 cohort studies were eventually identified, which comprised a total of 1,528,719 patients. In comparison with the general population, the pooled SIR for patients with dialysis including non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), dialysis excluding NMSC, transplantation including NMSC, transplantation excluding NMSC and RRT were 1.40 (95% CI, 1.36-1.45), 1.35 (95% CI, 1.23-1.50), 3.26 (95% CI, 2.29-4.63), 2.08 (95% CI, 1.73-2.50) and 2.01 (95% CI, 1.70-2.38), respectively. The cancer risk was particularly high in subgroups of large sample size trials, female patients, younger patients (age at first dialysis, 0-34 years; age at transplantation, 0-20 years), the first year of RRT and non-Asian transplant patients. A significant association was also found between RRT and the majority of organ-specific cancers. However, neither dialysis nor transplantation was associated with breast, body of uterus, colorectal or prostate cancer. Significant heterogeneity was found regarding the association between RRT and overall cancer as well as the majority of site-specific cancer types. However, this heterogeneity had no substantial influence on the pooled SIR for overall cancer in RRT according to the sensitivity analysis. Compared with the general population, RRT patients have a significantly increased risk of overall cancer and the majority of specific cancer types, particularly Kaposi sarcoma (KS), lip cancer and NMSC in patients subjected to kidney transplantation and cancer of the thyroid gland and kidney as well as myeloma in dialysis patients. Considering the high heterogeneity encountered, further high-quality studies are required.

Chronic kidney disease and the risk of cancer: an individual patient data meta-analysis of 32,057 participants from six prospective studies

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease but the relevance of reduced kidney function to cancer risk is uncertain.

METHODS

Individual patient data were collected from six studies (32,057 participants); including one population-based cohort and five randomized controlled trials. Participants were grouped into one of five CKD categories (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥75 mL/min/1.73 m(2); eGFR ≥60 to <75 mL/min/1.73 m(2); eGFR ≥45 to <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2); eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73 m(2); on dialysis). Stratified Cox regression was used to assess the impact of CKD category on cancer incidence and cancer death.

RESULTS

Over a follow-up period of 170,000 person-years (mean follow-up among survivors 5.6 years), 2626 participants developed cancer and 1095 participants died from cancer. Overall, there was no significant association between CKD category and cancer incidence or death. As compared with the reference group with eGFR ≥75 mL/min/1.73 m(2), adjusted hazard ratio (HR) estimates for each category of renal function, in descending order, were: 0.98 (95 % CI 0.87-1.10), 0.99 (0.88-1.13), 1.01 (0.84-1.22) and 1.24 (0.97-1.58) for cancer incidence, and 1.03 (95 % CI 0.86-1.24), 0.95 (0.78-1.16), 1.00 (0.76-1.33), and 1.58 (1.09-2.30) for cancer mortality. Among dialysis patients, there was an excess risk of cancers of the urinary tract (adjusted HR: 2.34; 95 % CI 1.10-4.98) and endocrine cancers (11.65; 95 % CI: 1.30-104.12), and an excess risk of death from digestive tract cancers (2.11; 95 % CI: 1.13-3.99), but a reduced risk of prostate cancers (0.38; 95 % CI: 0.18-0.83).

CONCLUSIONS

Whilst no association between reduced renal function and the overall risk of cancer was observed, there was evidence among dialysis patients that the risk of cancer was increased (urinary tract, endocrine and digestive tract) or decreased (prostate) at specific sites. Larger studies are needed to characterise these site-specific associations and to identify their pathogenesis.

Premature T Cell Senescence in Pediatric CKD

An individual's immune function, susceptibility to infection, and response to immunosuppressive therapy are influenced in part by his/her T cell maturation state. Although childhood is the most dynamic period of immune maturation, scant information regarding the variability of T cell maturation in children with renal disease is available. In this study, we compared the T cell phenotype in children with renal failure (n=80) with that in healthy children (n=20) using multiparameter flow cytometry to detect markers of T cell maturation, exhaustion, and senescence known to influence immune function. We correlated data with the degree of renal failure (dialysis or nondialysis), prior immunosuppression use, and markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein and inflammatory cytokines) to assess the influence of these factors on T cell phenotype. Children with renal disease had highly variable and often markedly skewed maturation phenotypes, including CD4/CD8 ratio reversal, increased terminal effector differentiation in CD8⁺ T cells, reduction in the proportion of naïve T cells, evidence of T cell exhaustion and senescence, and variable loss of T cell CD28 expression. These findings were most significant in patients who had experienced major immune insults, particularly prior immunosuppressive drug exposure. In conclusion, children with renal disease have exceptional heterogeneity in the T cell repertoire. Cognizance of this heterogeneity might inform risk stratification with regard to the balance between infectious risk and response to immunosuppressive therapy, such as that required for autoimmune disease and transplantation.