Renal cell carcinoma in kidney transplant recipients at Guy’s and King’s College Hospital (UK) between 1987-2018.
e16066 Background: The increased incidence of cancer after renal transplantation is well recognised. Differences in cancer risk depend on the type of cancer but overall the incidence of solid cancer in kidney transplant recipient is at least twofold. Long term immunosuppression, oncogenic viruses and changes in immune surveillance are contributing factors. The incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is approximately six-fold greater than in the general population. Screening for RCC in the post-transplantation setting is not routine. Methods: Retrospective case series of kidney transplant recipients who underwent transplantation between 1987 and 2018 at Guy’s Hospital (London, UK). Collected data on patients who developed RCC post-transplant included: baseline demographics, renal disease, transplant survival, tumour characteristics, cancer treatment and survival. Results: 2968 patients underwent kidney transplantation between 1987 and 2018 at our Centre. 52 patients (1.8%) developed RCC. 40 (74%) were male with a median age of 51 years. 37% (71%) were white and 12 (23%) were black. The causes of end stage kidney disease included IgA nephropathy, hypertension and polycystic kidney disease. Median time to RCC diagnosis after transplant was 9 years (range 0-27). 86% of patients presented with stage 1/2 tumours, with the majority (72%) occurring in native kidneys. Most underwent radical nephrectomy although 5 patients were managed with radiofrequency-ablation (RFA) or surveillance (donor kidneys). Of 6 patients with metastatic disease, 5 received pazopanib and 1 everolimus. 4 patients continued systemic therapy for over 3 months and all derived clinical benefit with a median drug exposure of 19 months .15 patients required further kidney transplant or dialysis. Overall only 2 patients died from RCC. Conclusions: This retrospective study is the largest single-centre UK study to our knowledge. Kidney transplant recipients experience a marked increased risk of developing RCC. Most diagnosed RCCs are small and disease-specific mortality is low. With a third of tumours arising in donor organs, questions around optimum loco-regional approach and screening of high-risk population remain unanswered.