Cancer deaths are higher among organ transplant recipients

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

Transplant patients receive drugs to prevent rejection of the new organ; however, because those drugs suppress the patient’s immune system, they are more susceptible to cancers many years later.

In particular, transplant recipients in Australia have a high risk of skin cancer because of its high UV levels. Researchers at the University of Adelaide are working on understanding this risk and how cancers can be prevented in this population.

This research has uncovered a number of biomarkers that indicate if a transplant patient may be more likely to develop cancer.

The researchers note, however, that they as of yet have no real way of preventing those cancers from occurring. But in an effort to find a balance between ensuring transplanted organs are not rejected and reducing the risk of cancers in these patients, the research team is conducting further studies to determine what the impact reducing immunosuppressants will have on patients.