Decreased skin cancer after cessation of therapy with transplant-associated immunosuppressants.

BACKGROUND

Immunosuppression for solid organ transplantation is associated with increased incidence of internal and cutaneous malignant tumors, among which skin cancer is the most common.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects on cutaneous carcinogenesis when stopping therapy with immunosuppressive medications.

OBSERVATIONS: We followed the clinical course of 6 solid organ transplant recipients after therapy with immunosuppressant medications was stopped because of allograft failure or unacceptable cutaneous carcinogenesis. Generally, we found that stopping therapy with immunosuppressive medications resulted in deceleration of cutaneous carcinogenesis, resolution of cutaneous verrucae vulgaris, and qualitative improvements in skin condition. Four patients experienced marked improvement; 2 did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Cessation of transplant-associated therapy with immunosuppressive medications for patients in whom cutaneous carcinomas developed after transplantation may lead to deceleration of cutaneous carcinogenesis, decreased verrucae, and improved skin quality within 1 to 2 years. Because of the natural variation in skin cancer development and the small number of cases in this series, definitive conclusions require further study.