Organ Transplant Recipients more prone to Risks of recurrent Multiple Skin Cancers: JAMA

There have been few studies on the chances of developing numerous primary skin malignancies in organ transplant patients (OTRs).

According to a retrospective cohort study, about half of the organ transplant patients (OTRs) who acquired at least one post-transplant skin cancer developed a subsequent skin cancer within two years, and roughly one in twenty developed ten or more skin cancers.

The study was conducted by Mackenzie R. Wehner and team and the findings of the study were published in JAMA Dermatology on 20th October, 2021.

The study was aimed to assess the risks over time and risk factors for OTRs getting (1) any skin cancer after transplant, (2) a second skin cancer after the first post-transplant skin cancer in the data sets used in the study, and (3) 10 or more skin cancers in the data sets used in the study. From 2007 to 2017, data from the Optum deidentified electronic health record data collection (7.7 million patients) and the Truven Health MarketScan insurance claims data set (161 million patients) were utilized in this retrospective cohort analysis. Skin malignancies were recognized using diagnostic plus treatment codes for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma; OTRs were identified using 4 or more organ transplant diagnosis codes. The data was analyzed between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2017.

In this cohort research, 4.5% to 13.3% of OTRs had at least one skin cancer treatment, according to data from an electronic health record and a claims database. In the data sets, OTRs had a 44.0% to 57.0% probability of a future skin cancer treatment and a 3.7% to 6.6% likelihood of having 10 or more skin cancer treatments at 2 years following an initial post-transplant skin cancer. Treatment options and skin cancer kinds were found to be compatible with clinical expectations (e.g., SCC is treated mostly with destruction) and other published material (the majority of skin cancers in OTRs are SCC, followed by BCCs, followed by melanoma).

In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that approximately half of OTRs who develop at least one post-transplant skin cancer may develop a subsequent skin cancer within two years, and approximately one in twenty may develop ten or more skin cancers, emphasizing the importance of diligent dermatology follow-up.

Reference:

Wehner MR, Niu J, Wheless L, et al. Risks of Multiple Skin Cancers in Organ Transplant Recipients: A Cohort Study in 2 Administrative Data Sets. JAMA Dermatol. Published online October 20, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.4148