Incidence and treatment of malignant tumors of the genitourinary tract in renal transplant recipients

Urological Cancers and Kidney Transplantation: a Literature Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this review is to provide an overview of epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment of urological malignancies in renal transplant recipients (RTR).

RECENT FINDINGS

Although optimal immunosuppressive therapy and cancer management in these patients remain controversial, adherence to general guidelines is recommended. Kidney transplantation is recognized as the standard of care for the treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as it offers prolonged survival and better quality of life. In the last decades, survival of RTRs has increased as a result of improved immunosuppressive therapy; nonetheless, the risk of developing cancer is higher among RTRs compared to the general population. Urological malignancies are the second most common after hematological cancer and often have more aggressive behavior and poor prognosis.

Urothelial carcinoma arising from the transplanted kidney: A single-center experience and literature review

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a malignancy predominantly arising in the bladder. Upper tract UC (UUC) is uncommon, accounting only for 5-10% of the cases. High incidence of neoplasms is associated with immunosuppressive therapy; thus, UCs of the transplanted grafts often lead to a more aggressive treatment, in order to withdraw completely the immunosuppression. It significantly affects the patient quality of life, meaning return to dialysis, along with the worse life expectancy. We present our single-institution experience of this rare malignancy in two mid-age kidney transplant recipients, with UCs successfully treated with radical nephroureterectomy: G3 pT3 N0 + G3 pT1 N0 in the first patient and G3 pT2 N0 in the second one. We also review the previous literature focusing on stage of presentation and treatment for the affected kidney transplant patients.