Screening for colorectal cancer and advanced colorectal neoplasia in kidney transplant recipients: cross sectional prevalence and diagnostic accuracy study of faecal immunochemical testing for haemoglobin and colonoscopy

Screening for renal cell carcinoma in renal transplant recipients: a single-centre retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) screening in renal transplant (RT) recipients.

DESIGN

Single-centre retrospective study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

1998 RT recipients who underwent RT at Memorial Hermann Hospital (MHH) Texas Medical Center (TMC) between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2019 were included and we identified 16 patients (0.8%) with RCC. An additional four patients with RCC who underwent RT elsewhere but received follow-up at MHH TMC were also included. Subject races included white (20%), black (50%), Hispanic (20%) and Asian (10%).

OUTCOME MEASURES

The RCC stage at diagnosis and outcomes were compared between patients who were screening versus those who were not.

RESULTS

We identified a total of 20 patients with post-RT RCC, 75% of whom were men. The median age at diagnosis was 56 years. RCC histologies included clear cell (75%), papillary (20%) and chromophobe (5%). Patients with post-RT RCC who had screening (n=12) underwent ultrasound or CT annually or every 2 years, whereas eight patients had no screening. All 12 patients who had screening had early-stage disease at diagnosis (stage I (n=11) or stage II (n=1)) and were cured by nephrectomy (n=10) or cryotherapy (n=2). In patients who had no screening, three (37.5%) had stage IV RCC at diagnosis and all of whom died of metastatic disease. There was a statistically significant difference in RCC-specific survival in patients who were screened (p=0.01) compared with those who were not screened.

CONCLUSION

All RT recipients who had RCC diagnosed based on screening had early-stage disease and there were no RCC-related deaths. Screening is an effective intervention in RT recipients to reduce RCC-related mortality.

Chronic kidney diseases and the risk of colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

We conducted this review to offer a comprehensive search and up-to-date overview of the currently available information about the probability risk of colorectal cancer among chronic kidney disease patients.

Method

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) and meta-analysis guidelines. We identified, reviewed, and extracted from Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, and Komaki Databases for research publications on chronic kidney disease and colorectal cancer published between February 2016 and January 2023. We meta-analyzed the prevalence of colorectal cancer with chronic kidney disease. We ran a random effect meta-regression. Risk-of-bias assessment was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023400983).

Results

The risk of CRC in chronic kidney diseases was reported in 50 research studies, which included 4,337,966 people from 16 different countries. SIR of CRC was obtained from 14 studies and showed a significant relationship between CRC with CKD patients, with a pooled SIR of 1.33; 95% CI (1.30-1.36), with higher heterogeneity (Q = 121.82, P < 0.001, and I2 = 86.9%). Metaregression showed that there was no significant correlation between the risk of CRC and the proportion of males or age.

Conclusion

Overall, this study shows that patients with chronic kidney disease have a significantly increased risk of colorectal cancer. More studies with larger sample sizes, and robust surveillance are needed.

Transplant Onconephrology: An Update

Transplant onconephrology is a growing specialty focused on the health care of kidney transplant recipients with cancer. Given the complexities associated with the care of transplant patients, along with the advent of novel cancer therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen-receptor T cells, there is a dire need for the subspecialty of transplant onconephrology. The management of cancer in the setting of kidney transplantation is best accomplished by a multidisciplinary team, including transplant nephrologists, oncologists, and patients. This review addresses the current state and future opportunities for transplant onconephrology, including the roles of the multidisciplinary team, and related scientific and clinical knowledge.

Transplanted kidney loss during colorectal cancer chemotherapy: A case report

BACKGROUND

The overall risk of de novo malignancies in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is higher than that in the general population. It is associated with long-lasting exposure to immunosuppressive agents and impaired oncological vigilance due to chronic kidney disease. Colorectal cancer (CRC), frequently diagnosed in an advanced stage, is one of the most common malignancies in this cohort and is associated with poor prognosis. Still, because of the scarcity of data concerning adjuvant chemotherapy in this group, there are no clear guidelines for the specific management of the CRCs in KTRs. We present a patient who lost her transplanted kidney shortly after initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer.

CASE SUMMARY

A 36-year-old woman with a medical history of kidney transplantation (2005) because of end-stage kidney disease, secondary to chronic glomerular nephritis, and long-term immunosuppression was diagnosed with locally advanced pT_4AN_1BM₀ (clinical stage III) colon adenocarcinoma G2. After right hemicolectomy, the patient was qualified to receive adjuvant chemotherapy that consisted of oxaliplatin, leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil (FOLFOX-4). The deterioration of kidney graft function after two cycles caused chemotherapy cessation and initiation of hemodialysis therapy after a few months. Shortly after that, the patient started palliative chemotherapy because of cancer recurrence with intraperitoneal spread.

CONCLUSION

Initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer increases the risk of rapid kidney graft loss driven also by under-immunosuppression.

Emerging Concepts in Managing Malignancy in Kidney Transplant Patients

Cancer remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients, due to long-term immunosuppression. Salient issues to consider in decreasing the burden of malignancy among kidney transplant recipients include pretransplant recipient evaluation, post-transplant screening and monitoring, and optimal treatment strategies for the kidney transplant recipients with cancer. In this review, we address cancer incidence and outcomes, approaches to cancer screening and monitoring pretransplant and post-transplant, as well as treatment strategies, immunosuppressive management, and multidisciplinary approaches in the kidney transplant recipients with cancer.

Cancer Screening in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Focus on Screening Liver, Lung, and Kidney Recipients for Cancers Related to the Transplanted Organ

Over the last few decades, the life expectancy of solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) has improved significantly. With SOTRs living longer, more recipients are dying from cancer. There is a reported 2- to 3-fold increased risk of cancer-specific mortality in SOTRs compared with the general population. Cancer in an SOTR can be de novo, recurrent, or donor-derived. Cancer screening in this population is crucial, as early detection and treatment may improve outcomes. In the absence of randomized controlled trials dedicated to SOTRs, clinicians rely on clinical practice guidelines from regional and national transplant societies; however, these may vary considerably across jurisdictions and transplanted organ. At present, no widely accepted consensus exists for cancer screening protocols in SOTRs, particularly with regard to screening for malignancy related to transplanted organ. Some SOTRs may be at higher risk of malignancies within the allograft. This is particularly the case in lung and liver recipients, though less common in kidney recipients who are at increased risk of developing renal cell cancer in their native kidneys. This increased risk has not been uniformly incorporated into screening recommendations for SOTRs. In this review, we summarize the cancer screening recommendations for SOTRs from various transplant organizations based on transplanted organ. This review also discusses the complexity and controversies surrounding screening of cancer in the allograft and future avenues to improve cancer detection in this context. More studies specific to SOTRs are required to form generalizable and evidence-based cancer screening guidelines, particularly with respect to cancer screening in the allograft.

Colorectal Cancer after Kidney Transplantation: A Screening Colonoscopy Case-Control Study

The incidence of colorectal cancer in kidney transplant recipients has been previously reported with conflicting results. In this study, we investigated if the incidence of colorectal advanced neoplasms in kidney transplant recipients, evaluated with screening colonoscopy, was higher than in healthy individuals. One-hundred sixty kidney transplant recipients undergoing screening colonoscopy were compared with 594 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Advanced colorectal neoplasia was found in 22 patients (13.7%), including four patients (2.5%) with colorectal cancer. Compared with the healthy population, kidney transplant recipients did not have an increased risk of developing a colorectal cancer (OR 0.69; 95% CI 0.236–2.063, p = 0.688) although it developed at a younger age. In contrast, kidney transplant recipients had a higher risk of developing an advanced adenoma compared with the control group (OR 1.65; 95% CI 0.930–2.981, p = 0.04). In conclusion, kidney transplant recipients did not have an increased incidence of colorectal cancer compared with healthy population. However, transplant patients displayed a higher incidence of colorectal adenomas, suggesting that screening colonoscopy in kidney transplant recipients should be expanded to include even younger recipients (<50 years old).

Review of Outcomes after Diagnosis of Malignancy in Kidney Transplant Patients: UNOS Database

Malignancy is the third major cause of death among transplant recipients. Patient and kidney transplant outcomes after the diagnosis of malignancy are not well described. We reviewed incidences and outcomes of colorectal, lung, PTLD, and renal malignancy after transplant among patients who received a transplant from January 2000 to December 2018 using the UNOS/OPTN database. Incidence of each malignancy was measured at 5 years and 10 years of transplant. The Kaplan–Meier curve was used for time-to-event analysis (graft and patient outcomes). Additionally, we sought to identify the causes of graft failure among these recipients. We found that 12,764 (5.5%) patients suffered malignancy, excluding squamous and basal cell skin carcinoma after transplant. During the first 5 years of transplant, incidence of colorectal, lung, PTLD, and renal malignancies was 2.99, 9.21, 15.61, and 8.55 per 10,000 person-years, respectively. Rates of graft failure were 10.3%, 7.6%, 19.9%, and 18.8%, respectively, among these patients at 5 years. Mortality rate was highest among patients who suffered lung malignancy (84%), followed by colorectal (61.5%), PTLD (49.1%), and renal (35.5%) at 5 years after diagnosis of malignancy. In conclusion, kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with lung malignancy have the lowest graft survival, compared to PTLD, colorectal, and renal malignancy. PTLD has the highest incidence rate in the first 5 years of transplant.

Sex differences in cancer risk and outcomes after kidney transplantation

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) experience a two- to four-fold increased risk of developing and dying from cancer compared with the general population. High cancer risk results from the interaction of both modifiable and non-modifiable factors. This mapping review explores the impact of sex disparity on cancer's increased incidence and mortality after kidney transplantation (KT). In terms of age, population-based studies indicate that younger recipients of both sexes experience a higher risk of cancer, but this is more pronounced in young women. On the contrary, older men are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, although their increased risk is not statistically significant compared with the general population. Regarding cancer type, studies show an increased risk of Kaposi sarcoma, gynecologic and lung cancer in women, and bladder and kidney cancer in men. Immune-related cancers such as pos-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders and melanoma are increased in both sexes. Mortality also shows differences between sexes. Although cancer is the second cause of death in both male and female KTRs, studies show higher overall mortality in men and elderly recipients. However, the relative risk of cancer mortality compared with the general population is higher at a younger age, with disparate results regarding sex. Female KTRs appear to die at a younger age than males when compared with the general population. Differences in cancer rates by sex after renal transplantation need further studies. A better understanding of sex-specific differences in cancer epidemiology after KT could help nephrologists to better address pre-transplant counseling, to establish early surveillance programs, and to plan modifiable risk factors such as immunosuppression.

Post-transplant colitis after kidney transplantation: clinical, endoscopic and histological features

Chronic immunosuppression may increase the risk of post-transplant infection and medication-related injury and may also be responsible for the increased risk of gastrointestinal complications in kidney transplant recipients. Differentiating the various forms of post-transplant colitis is challenging, since most have similar clinical and histological features. This study evaluated the incidence of post-transplant gastrointestinal complications during screening colonoscopy. Kidney transplant recipients undergoing a colonoscopy for any reasons in the period 2014-2018 were included. Among the 134 patients completing the colonoscopy, 74 patients (56%) had an abnormal finding: an adenoma was found in 25 patients (18.6%), while 19 patients (14.1%) had colitis. Mycophenolic acid/related colitis was the most common colitis (6%), while 7 patients (5.2%) developed a de novo inflammatory bowel disease. Patients with post-transplant colitis were younger and with shorter time from transplant compared to patients without colitis. In conclusions, immunosuppression may predispose kidney transplant recipients to an increased risk of post-transplant colitis. Diagnostic colonoscopy should be encouraged in all transplant patients with refractory diarrhea and gastrointestinal symptoms to allow a prompt diagnosis and a timely treatment, finally improving the quality of life and long-term outcomes of affected patients.

Gastrointestinal Pathologies in Patients After Successful Renal Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Kidney transplantation (KT) is the most desired and cost-effective modality of renal replacement therapy for patients with chronic kidney failure. KT protects the patient from complications that may develop during chronic dialysis. Unfortunately, evidence also suggests that KT patients are more prone to developing cancer than healthy persons. Many complications after renal transplantation can be prevented if they are detected early. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal pathologies in patients after KT.

METHODS

Adult patients after KT who are under the care of the Outpatient Department of Nephrology at the Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland, received alarm symptom questionnaires and referral for testing for the presence of fecal occult blood. Then, in 58 selected patients (36 men and 22 women), endoscopic examination was performed. Mean age was 57.34 ± 10.1 (range, 35-83) years.

RESULTS

Out of 940 patients after KT, resting under supervision of the Outpatient Department, 208 patients completed the questionnaire and 118 gave a stool sample for testing: 40 results were positive. After analyzing the questionnaires and stool results, 100 patients qualified for further investigation. The endoscopic examination had been performed so far in 58 patients and revealed gastritis and/or duodenitis in 49 patients, diverticular colon disease in 26, esophagitis in 8, colon polyps in 16, stomach polyps in 4, inflammatory bowel disease in 12, and cancers in 3.

CONCLUSIONS

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

Colonic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in a renal transplant recipient: a case report

Background

Extra-gastric (particularly colonic) lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in the immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipient is rare. We report a case of low-volume mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma with colonic and bone marrow involvement in a renal transplant recipient that has been managed conservatively.

Case presentation

A 62-year-old Caucasian man, 14 years after kidney transplantation, was diagnosed as having extra-nodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue with bone marrow and colonic involvement, after a colonoscopy identified mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in a sessile sigmoid polyp following surveillance fecal occult blood testing that returned a positive result. A gastric biopsy showed no evidence of Helicobacter pylori, but Helicobacter pylori immunoglobulin G was positive. He received Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment and is being managed expectantly. Immunosuppression was unchanged with prednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, and cyclosporine A. Renal allograft function has remained stable.

Conclusions

This case highlights the unexpected occurrence of colonic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in a kidney transplant recipient. The case emphasizes the importance of histopathological diagnosis of colonic lesions in this patient cohort because the unusual diagnosis of low-volume mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma can be managed expectantly as it does not appear to be clinically aggressive in the immunosuppressed solid organ transplant.

An update on cancer after kidney transplantation

The emergence of onconephrology in recent years highlights the importance of the interaction between kidney disease and cancer. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cancer are linked with each other in different ways bidirectionally: cancer can cause CKD, whereas CKD itself may be a risk factor for cancer. Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) have a 2- to 3-fold increased cancer risk when compared with the general population. The elevated risk covers a wide range of cancers. Some are related to CKD, including cancers of the kidney, urinary tract and thyroid, whereas others are related to oncogenic viruses that include non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cervical cancer, nonmelanoma skin cancer and Kaposi's sarcoma. There is no standard protocol regarding how immunosuppressive drugs should be adjusted in patients who develop posttransplant cancers. However, any modification of immunosuppressive regimens should be balanced against the risk of allograft rejection or deterioration in kidney function. Cancer surveillance can be used as a strategy to improve the clinical outcome in KTRs. Although guidelines adopted in the general population have been used as the reference, a personalized approach based on individual cancer risk, life expectancy and concurrent comorbidities has to be adopted.

An algorithm for the classification of study designs to assess diagnostic, prognostic and predictive test accuracy in systematic reviews

Results of medical tests are the main source to inform clinical decision making. The main information to assess the usefulness of medical tests for correct discrimination of patients are accuracy measures. For the estimation of test accuracy measures, many different study designs can be used. The study design is related to the clinical question to be answered (diagnosis, prognosis, prediction), determines the accuracy measures that can be calculated and it might have an influence on risk of bias. Therefore, a clear and consistent distinction of the different study designs in systematic reviews on test accuracy studies is very important. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for the classification of study designs of test accuracy, that compare the results of an index test (the test to be evaluated) with the results of a reference test (the test whose results are considered as correct/the gold standard) studies in systematic reviews.

Cancer in kidney transplant recipients

Cancer is the second most common cause of mortality and morbidity in kidney transplant recipients after cardiovascular disease. Kidney transplant recipients have at least a twofold higher risk of developing or dying from cancer than the general population. The increased risk of de novo and recurrent cancer in transplant recipients is multifactorial and attributed to oncogenic viruses, immunosuppression and altered T cell immunity. Transplant candidates and potential donors should be screened for cancer as part of the assessment process. For potential recipients with a prior history of cancer, waiting periods of 2-5 years after remission - largely depending on the cancer type and stage of initial cancer diagnosis - are recommended. Post-transplantation cancer screening needs to be tailored to the individual patient, considering the cancer risk of the individual, comorbidities, overall prognosis and the screening preferences of the patient. In kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with cancer, treatment includes conventional approaches, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, together with consideration of altering immunosuppression. As the benefits of transplantation compared with dialysis in potential transplant candidates with a history of cancer have not been assessed, current clinical practice relies on evidence from observational studies and registry analyses.

Protein functionalised self assembled monolayer based biosensor for colon cancer detection

We report results of the studies relating to the fabrication of a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) based label-free immunosensor for real-time monitoring of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a colon cancer biomarker. A gold disk modified with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (11-MUA) was functionalised via covalent immobilization of monoclonal anti-ET-1 antibodies using EDC-NHS (1-(3-(dimethylamine)-propyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride, N-hydroxy succinimide) chemistry. This immunosensing platform (ethanolamine/anti-ET-1/11-MUA/Au) was characterized via atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle (CA) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic techniques. The fabricated SPR electrode was further used to detect ET-1 in the broad concentration range 2-100 pg mL^-1, with a detection limit of 0.30 pg mL^-1 and remarkable sensitivity of 2.18 m^o pg^-1mL. The adsorption mechanism was studied using monophasic model and the values of association (k_a) and dissociation (k_d) constants for anti-ET-1 and ET-1 binding were calculated to be 4.4 ± 0.4 × 10⁵ M^-1 s^-1 and 2.04 ± 0.0003 × 10^-3 s^-1, respectively. The results obtained via analysis of serum samples of colorectal cancer patients were found to be in good agreement with those obtained from enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Further, electrochemical studies were performed to prove the efficacy of the fabricated platform as a point of care device for the detection of ET-1.

Uptake of Cancer Screening Tests Among Recipients of Solid Organ Transplantation

Population-based cancer screening recommendations are also suggested for solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR); however, recommendation adherence is unknown. In a population-based cohort of SOTR in Ontario between 1997 and 2010, we determined the uptake of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening tests and identified factors associated with up-to-date screening using recurrent event analysis. We identified 4436 SOTR eligible for colorectal, 2252 for cervical, and 1551 for breast cancer screening. Of those, 3437 (77.5%), 1572 (69.8%), and 1417 (91.4%), respectively, were not up-to-date for cancer screening tests during the observation period. However, these rates are likely an overestimate due to the inability to differentiate between tests done for screening or for diagnosis. SOTR with fewer comorbidities had higher rates of becoming screen up-to-date. Assessment by a primary care provider (PCP) was associated with becoming up-to-date with cancer screening (breast relative risk [RR] = 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.76, cervical RR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.06-1.57, colorectal RR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.15-1.48). Similar results were observed for continuity of care by transplant specialist at a transplant center. In conclusion, cancer screening for most SOTR does not adhere to standard recommendations. Involvement of PCPs in posttransplant care and continuity of care at a transplant center may improve the uptake of screening.

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.

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.

STARD 2015 guidelines for reporting diagnostic accuracy studies: explanation and elaboration

Diagnostic accuracy studies are, like other clinical studies, at risk of bias due to shortcomings in design and conduct, and the results of a diagnostic accuracy study may not apply to other patient groups and settings. Readers of study reports need to be informed about study design and conduct, in sufficient detail to judge the trustworthiness and applicability of the study findings. The STARD statement (Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies) was developed to improve the completeness and transparency of reports of diagnostic accuracy studies. STARD contains a list of essential items that can be used as a checklist, by authors, reviewers and other readers, to ensure that a report of a diagnostic accuracy study contains the necessary information. STARD was recently updated. All updated STARD materials, including the checklist, are available at http://www.equator-network.org/reporting-guidelines/stard Here, we present the STARD 2015 explanation and elaboration document. Through commented examples of appropriate reporting, we clarify the rationale for each of the 30 items on the STARD 2015 checklist, and describe what is expected from authors in developing sufficiently informative study reports.

The benefits of cancer screening in kidney transplant recipients: a single-center experience

The frequency of malignancy is increasing in kidney transplant recipients. Posttransplant malignancy (PTM) is a major cause of long-term graft survival inhibition. In this study, we evaluated the frequency and prognosis of PTM at our center and examined the efficacy of cancer screening. Between 1972 and 2013, 750 patients were followed-up at our center. Annual physical examinations and screenings were performed to detect PTM. We investigated the detail of two distinctive cancer groups: screening-detected cancers and symptom-detected cancers. Seventy-seven PTM were identified during the follow-up period. The mean age at the initial PTM detection was 43.6 ± 12.8 years. The mean interval from transplantation to cancer diagnosis was 134.5 ± 11.3 months. Among the 77 patients, posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) was the most common cancer (19.5%, 15/77), followed by renal cell carcinoma (15.6%, 12/77). Of the cancer cases, 46.8% (36/77) were detected via screening. The most frequently screening-detected cancer was renal cell carcinoma of the native kidney and breast cancer (22.2%, 8/36). However, it was difficult to detect PTLD, urothelial carcinoma, and colorectal cancer via screening. Interestingly, Cox proportional regression analyses revealed nonscreened recipients to be a significant prognostic factor for PTM (P < 0.001). This study is the first to report that appropriate screening tests play a key role in early PTM diagnosis and lead to reduce the mortality rate in kidney transplant recipients. These findings support the provision of long-term appropriate screening for kidney transplant recipients.

Prevalence of advanced colorectal neoplasm after kidney transplantation: surveillance based on the results of screening colonoscopy

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The aim of this study was to determine whether the prevalence of advanced colorectal neoplasms increases in kidney transplant recipients and to define the appropriate duration for surveillance colonoscopy after kidney transplantation (TPL).

METHODS

Our study consisted of 248 kidney transplant patients who underwent a colonoscopy at Seoul National University Hospital from 1996 to 2008. For each patient, two or more age- and sex-matched controls were identified from a population of asymptomatic individuals.

RESULTS

Twenty (8.1 %) patients had advanced colonic neoplasms, including colorectal cancers (four patients, 1.6 %), after kidney TPL. A case-control study showed that the odds of advanced colonic neoplasms occurring in TPL patients were 2.3 times greater than in the matched subjects. In addition, TPL patients 50 years of age or older had an approximate 5.4-fold higher risk of developing advanced neoplasms than did the matched subjects (OR 5.370; 95 % CI 2.543-11.336; P < 0.001). Age and history of advanced neoplasms were associated with an increased risk of developing advanced neoplasms after TPL. The 5-year cumulative incidence rate of advanced neoplasms was 3.6 % in the 82 patients with normal or non-advanced adenomas detected via screening colonoscopy before TPL.

CONCLUSIONS

Colonoscopy is recommended for patients before and after kidney TPL, especially for those 50 years of age or older. Colonoscopy surveillance after TPL is warranted strictly according to the baseline risk stratification.

Risk of major hemorrhage after kidney transplantation

BACKGROUND

Major hemorrhagic events are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We examined the three-year cumulative incidence of hospitalization with major nontraumatic hemorrhage after kidney transplantation.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study using healthcare administrative data of all adult-incident kidney-only transplantation recipients in Ontario, Canada from 1994 to 2009. We calculated the three-year cumulative incidence, event rate, and incident rate ratio of hospitalization with major hemorrhage, its subtypes and those undergoing a hemorrhage-related procedure. RESULTS were stratified by patient age and donor type and compared to a random and propensity-score matched sample from the general population.

RESULTS

Among 4,958 kidney transplant recipients, the three-year cumulative incidence of hospitalization with nontraumatic major hemorrhage was 3.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0-4.1%, 12.7 events per 1,000 patient-years) compared to 0.4% (95% CI 0.4-0.5%) in the general population (RR = 8.2, 95% CI 6.9-9.7). The crude risk of hemorrhage was 3-9-fold higher in all subtypes (upper/lower gastrointestinal, intra-cranial) and 15-fold higher for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures compared to the random sample from the general population. After propensity score matching, the relative risk for major hemorrhage and its subtypes attenuated but remained elevated. The cumulative incidence of hemorrhage was higher for older individuals and those with a deceased donor kidney.

CONCLUSION

Kidney transplantation recipients have a higher risk of hospitalization with hemorrhage compared to the general population, with about 1 in 30 recipients experiencing a major hemorrhage in the three years following transplant.

Yield of screening colonoscopy in renal transplant candidates

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death among patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing maintenance dialysis. Renal transplantation offers a survival advantage to patients with end-stage renal disease; it is also associated with a three- to fivefold increase in the risk of developing a neoplasm.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the yield of screening colonoscopy among patients with chronic kidney disease who were considered for renal transplantation.

METHODS

Patients were included if they were ≥50 years of age, had chronic kidney disease and were being considered for renal transplantation. They underwent a screening colonoscopy that was performed as part of their pretransplant workup. Data from December 2008 to May 2014 were collected retrospectively for all eligible patients.

RESULTS

During the study period, 433 patients were considered for renal transplantation. Of these, 170 underwent colonoscopies as part of their pretransplant workup. One was excluded because of previous history of colon cancer. Of the 169 procedures performed, ≥1 polyp(s) was diagnosed in 24%. The most common pathological diagnoses were hyperplastic polyp or normal colonic tissue. Fifteen (37%) patients had tubular adenomas and one patient had a sessile serrated adenoma. Advanced adenomas, defined as villous, tubulovillous or high-grade dysplasia, were found in four patients. Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in one patient.

CONCLUSION

In a population of asymptomatic potential kidney transplant recipients ≥50 years of age, the prevalence of colorectal adenomatous polyps was 24%. Colonoscopy appeared to be useful as a screening tool in potential transplant recipients.

Importance of pre-transplant colonoscopy in renal transplant recipients

Background

Current recommendations for colorectal cancer screening for kidney transplant candidates are the same as for the general population. However, few studies have established the prevalence and characteristics of colorectal polyps in this population. The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence and characteristics of colonic lesions detected by pre-transplant colonoscopies in our kidney transplant population.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted from January 2007 to December 2009 at the Centre Hospitalier de l’Universite de Montreal (Canada). Inclusion criteria are all renal transplant recipients with a test for colorectal cancer screening in the 5 years preceding the transplantation. Patients benefiting of a second transplantation were excluded. The files were reviewed for clinical data, including colonoscopy indication, endoscopic and pathologic results. Advanced lesions were defined as adenomas of 10 mm or greater or with a villous component. Polyps were considered proximal if they were at the level of or above the splenic angle.

Results

This study includes 159 patients. A pre-transplant colonoscopy was performed in 40% (n = 64). Polyps were present in 32.8% (n = 21) of colonoscopies and 66.7% of them showed adenomas. Advanced lesions were present in 6.25% of the exams. Finally, 66.7% of patients with polyps had at least one proximal lesion.

Conclusions

The prevalence of colorectal polyps before transplant is high among renal transplant recipients. The high prevalence of proximal lesions supports the need for total colonoscopy.

Nature and outcomes of the increased incidence of colorectal malignancy after liver transplantation in Australasia

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether incidence of colorectal malignancy is increased in Australasian liver transplant recipients compared with the general population of Australia, and to assess the characteristics and outcomes of colorectal malignancy in this patient group.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS

Data on patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) and had a diagnosis of de-novo colorectal malignancy after transplantation during the period 1985-2011 were obtained from the Australia and New Zealand Liver Transplant Registry, and these data were compared with colorectal malignancy data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Time from OLTx to diagnosis of colorectal malignancy, stage of colorectal malignancy at diagnosis, patient survival, and standardised incidence ratio (SIR) for colorectal malignancy.

RESULTS

Forty-eight of 3735 recipients (1.3%) were diagnosed with colorectal malignancy at a median of 7.3 years after OLTx. More advanced colorectal malignancy (regional or metastatic disease) was evident at diagnosis in 20 of the 48 patients; these patients tended to be younger than patients with less advanced malignancy (P = 0.01) and diagnosed sooner after OLTx (P = 0.005). Despite treatment predominantly with surgery, 19 of the 48 patients died from the malignancy. The overall SIR for colorectal malignancy liver transplant recipients compared with the general population of Australia was 2.80 (95% CI, 2.06-3.71).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of colorectal malignancy is increased in liver transplant recipients in comparison with the general population. Of concern is the tendency for advanced malignancy to be diagnosed in younger patients. These data highlight the importance of considering whether specific guidelines for colorectal malignancy screening in the Australasian adult liver transplant population are needed.

Malignancies: pre and post transplantation strategies

The overall incidence of cancer is increased 2-3 fold in solid organ transplant recipients compared to the general population. The increase in risk is not uniform for all malignancies, in all ages or in all regions of the world. Several cancers are greatly increased, many are increased 2-4 fold and others do not appear to be increased at all. The pattern of increase is similar to patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and those cancers most increased are associated with viral infections. These observations support the concept that much of the increased risk is from immunosuppression. Nonetheless there are differences between specific organ groups that deserve further examination. Those with advanced organ failure are also at increased risk for certain malignancies, which suggest either organ damage per se may pre-dispose to cancers or there are exposures to carcinogens in common. The purpose of this review to examine cancer incidence and mortality in solid organ transplantation and the role of pre transplant screening and post-transplant surveillance to reduce the burden of disease and improve patient outcomes. This review will focus on cancers that are common, associated with significant case fatality rates and have potential screening strategies to reduce burden of disease.

Cancer in the transplant recipient

Malignancy has become one of the three major causes of death after transplantation in the past decade and is thus increasingly important in all organ transplant programs. Death from cardiovascular disease and infection are both decreasing in frequency from a combination of screening, prophylaxis, aggressive risk factor management, and interventional therapies. Cancer, on the other hand, is poorly and expensively screened for; risk factors are mostly elusive and/or hard to impact on except for the use of immunosuppression itself; and finally therapeutic approaches to the transplant recipient with cancer are often nihilistic. This article provides a review of each of the issues as they come to affect transplantation: cancer before wait-listing, cancer transmission from the donor, cancer after transplantation, outcomes of transplant recipients after a diagnosis of cancer, and the role of screening and therapy in reducing the impact of cancer in transplant recipients.