High-risk cutaneous malignancies and immunosuppression: Challenges for the reconstructive surgeon in the renal transplant population

A review of heart transplant immunosuppressants and nonmelanoma skin cancer

Heart transplant recipients experience high rates of skin cancer, likely due to greater length or dosage of immunosuppression. We review the impact of immunosuppressive medications on development of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in heart transplant recipients. The authors searched keywords "heart transplant" and "nonmelanoma skin cancer" on PubMed in October 2022 for eligible articles available in English. Articles were selected for inclusion based on relevance to heart transplantation and NMSC. If any cited articles within included articles were related to our search they were also included. Of the 29 identified articles, 18 met the inclusion criteria with a total of 11,699 patients. Two studies found that tacrolimus and azathioprine increased the risk of NMSC. Five studies demonstrated that tacrolimus, everolimus, sirolimus, azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil decreased the risk of NMSC. Three studies described that cyclosporine, tacrolimus, everolimus, sirolimus, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone had no significant association with the development in NMSC. Two studies did not specify the correlation between immunosuppressant use and NMSC development. Ten studies did not discuss the association of immunosuppressants use with the development of NMSC. Our review highlights the commonly used immunosuppressive drugs that can impact the development of NMSC in heart transplant recipients. A management strategy in immunosuppression-associated skin cancers may ultimately involve adjusting the immunosuppressive regimen. This review serves as a summary of the most commonly used immunosuppressive drugs in heart transplant patients and their tumorigenic mechanisms to guide recommendations for dermatologic follow-up in heart transplant recipients.

Malignancy Diseases in Kidney Transplantation, Clinical Outcomes, Patient, and Allograft Survival: A Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

Malignancy is a well-known complication in patients after kidney transplantation (KT), but its effect on posttransplant outcomes, allograft, and patient survival remains unexplored. The aim of this study is to report the impact of the comorbidity on clinical outcome, function, and failure of an allograft kidney.

METHODS

This case-control study included 101 KT patients. Twenty-six patients who developed cancer (CA) were assigned to the case group and 75 to the control group. Statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression models, and graft survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier curve.

RESULTS

Non-melanoma skin CA was the most common malignancy, accounting for almost 60% of cases, followed by stomach CA, prostate CA, and lymphoproliferative diseases (7.70% each). Difference in graft and patient survival was not significant between the two groups (P > .05). A tumor in nonfunctioning in the first nonfunctioning KT was identified in 1 KT patient with a second allograft and by anatomopathological was detect Fuhrman grade II renal cell carcinoma. This KT patient was in good clinical condition with serum creatinine level of 1.5 mg/dL.

CONCLUSIONS

No association was observed between CA development and risk factors, including family history and smoking habit, and no differences in allograft and patient survival were found. Nevertheless, in our data, CA in KT patients occurred early after transplantation. Renal cell carcinoma in allograft failure was identified in a patient; that suggested that nephrectomy of kidney failure must be performed to avoid patient allosensitization and neoplasia. Thus, we suggest continuous screening of malignancy diseases for KT patients.

Aetiology and Pathogenesis of Cutaneous Melanoma: Current Concepts and Advances

Melanoma develops from malignant transformations of the pigment-producing melanocytes. If located in the basal layer of the skin epidermis, melanoma is referred to as cutaneous, which is more frequent. However, as melanocytes are be found in the eyes, ears, gastrointestinal tract, genitalia, urinary system, and meninges, cases of mucosal melanoma or other types (e.g., ocular) may occur. The incidence and morbidity of cutaneous melanoma (cM) are constantly increasing worldwide. Australia and New Zealand are world leaders in this regard with a morbidity rate of 54/100,000 and a mortality rate of 5.6/100,000 for 2015. The aim of this review is to consolidate and present the data related to the aetiology and pathogenesis of cutaneous melanoma, thus rendering them easier to understand. In this article we will discuss these problems and the possible impacts on treatment for this disease.

Localized Non-melanoma Skin Cancer: Risk Factors of Post-surgical Relapse and Role of Postoperative Radiotherapy

The mainstay treatment of localized non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is surgical excision or Mohs surgery. However, approximately 5% of patients with NMSC harbor high-risk clinicopathologic features for loco-regional recurrence, and distant metastasis. Prognostic factors such as close or positive margins, tumor size ≥ 2 cm, poor tumor differentiation, perineural invasion, depth of invasion, and immunosuppression have all been associated with increased loco-regional recurrence and impaired survival rates. In these patients more aggressive treatments are needed and radiotherapy (RT) is often discussed as adjuvant therapy after surgical resection. Due to the retrospective setting and the heterogeneity of the available studies, indications for adjuvant RT in patients with localized resected NMSC harboring high-risk features remain debated. Studies highlighting the limitations of our current understanding of the independent prognosis of each risk factor are needed to better define the role of adjuvant RT on outcome of localized NMSC and standardize its indications in the clinical setting.

Outcomes of head and neck surgery in patients with a history of solid organ transplantation

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Examine the prevalence and outcomes of head and neck surgeries in patients with a history of organ transplantation.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cross-sectional analysis utilizing the Nationwide Readmissions Database, 2010 to 2014.

METHODS

The study population included adults patients who underwent head and neck surgeries. Patients with a reported history of solid organ transplantation were compared to patients with no such history.

RESULTS

The study population included 322 transplant patients (76.4% kidney, 8.7% liver, 8.4% heart, 3.0% kidney/pancreas, 2.3% lung, 0.9% kidney/liver, 0.4% pancreas) and 120,401 controls who underwent comparable procedures. Main surgeries that were performed in cases included 37.8% parathyroid, 17.7% thyroid, 11.2% major salivary gland, 10.6% major mouth/tonsil, and 9.6% major nose/paranasal sinuses. Encountering transplant patients in otolaryngology practice has been increasing annually by three patients for every 10,000 procedures performed in the United States. There was no difference in the overall postoperative complications risk (12.5% vs. 10.1%, P = .26); however, cases had a higher risk of acute renal failure (5.4% vs. 1.1%, P < .001) and shock state (0.3% vs. 0.02%, P < .001). Readmission risk was higher for cases (6.8% vs. 3.4%, P = .003). There was no reported in-hospital mortality among cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Transplant patients are increasingly encountered in otolaryngology practices. The most common transplanted organ is kidney, and the most commonly performed procedure is parathyroidectomy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 130:E89-E97, 2020.

Management of skin cancer in recipients of solid organ transplants

Recent improvements in post-transplant care have led to an increased life expectancy for recipients of organ transplants. These patients require lifelong immunosuppression, which is associated with an increased incidence of malignant disease. Skin cancers are the most common malignancies seen in recipients of organ transplants and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This review describes factors pertaining to the development and prognosis of skin cancers in recipients of organ transplants, as well as outlining prevention and management strategies in this cohort.

Kaposi Sarcoma in the Era of Rapamycin Remains a Therapeutic Challenge in Organ Transplant Recipients

Solid-organ transplant recipients are at higher risk of developing Kaposi sarcoma, which is a multicentric vascular neoplasm of lymphatic endothelium-derived cells. Reducing doses of immunosuppressive drugs and switching from calcineurin inhibitors to the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor rapamycin have been suggested as an effective first-line treatment modality in most patients. Herein, we report a 64-year-old renal transplant recipient who developed multiple cutaneous and visceral Kaposi sarcoma lesions 2 months after transplant. The patient showed no improvement, with progression of the disease until month 15 of the suggested therapy of rapamycin.