Incidence of Neoplastic Disease Following Lung Transplantation: A 17-Year Single-Center Experience

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2011-05, Vol.43 (4), p.1156-1158
• Main Authors: Pellegrini, C, Nicolardi, S, Savasta, M, Totaro, P, Meloni, F, Ippoliti, G, Oggionni, T, Raffa, G, D'Armini, A.M, Viganò, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cause of Death; Disease-Free Survival; Epidemiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; General aspects; Hospital Mortality; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - adverse effects; Incidence; Italy - epidemiology; Lung Transplantation - adverse effects; Lung Transplantation - mortality; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - etiology; Neoplasms - mortality; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Survival Analysis; Survival Rate; Time Factors; Tissue, organ and graft immunology; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2011.02.041

Abstract Objective Chronic immunosuppressive therapy following solid organ transplantation has been correlated with an increased risk of posttransplantation neoplastic disease (PTND). In this study we evaluated PTND incidence and outcome at our institution over a 17-year period among patients receiving lung transplantation. Materials and Methods Between February 1992 and December 2008, we performed 290 lung transplantations in 280 patients, including 139 single (48% with 5 retransplantations), and 151 double lung transplantations (52% with 5 retransplantations). Among the 280 patients, 2 had undergone previous double lung transplantation in other hospitals. Follow-up of transplant recipients was performed up to December 2009. Results Forty-two patients died in the hospital, producing a cumulative early (30-day) mortality rate of 15%. Among the 238 patients discharged from the hospital who entered our follow-up program, 36 (15%) experienced PTND. The mean time between transplantation and diagnosis was 47 ± 42 months, and patients' mean age at time of diagnosis was 55 ± 14 years. Overall freedom from PTND was 97%, 84%, and 73% at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. PTND was considered to be the direct cause of death in 11 patients (30%). Overall survival of patients with PTND at five years (45%) did not differ from the remainder of the transplanted population (46%). However, PTND became a relevant cause of death in the long-term (> 5 years) follow-up. Conclusion Our experience confirms that PTND was frequently diagnosed following lung transplantation. Even if PTND did not seem to significantly affect the survival of patients undergoing lung transplantation, it may become a significant cause of death among those surviving beyond 5 years.