Systemic Therapies for the Treatment of Cutaneous Malignancies in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND

Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) face frequent advanced cutaneous malignancies, yet data guiding systemic therapy are limited.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We conducted a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses systematic review of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), and Sonic Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors (HPIs) for locally advanced or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma in SOTRs, including a novel case from our institution. Outcomes included tumor response, graft rejection, and graft failure.

RESULTS

Among 196 SOTRs treated with ICIs (101 cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, 83 melanoma, 12 Merkel cell carcinoma), the overall response rate (ORR) was 39.3%, and lack of progression occurred in 58.0%. Graft rejection occurred in 36.9% and graft failure in 22.3%. A higher number of baseline immunosuppressive agents decreased odds of rejection (OR 0.55) and failure (OR 0.38). Tacrolimus was associated with reduced tumor response (OR 0.41), whereas mTOR-based regimens and cemiplimab were associated with fewer transplant rejection. T-VEC was reported in 10 SOTRs with an ORR of 90% and no graft rejection or failure. HPIs in six SOTRs with basal cell carcinoma demonstrated ORR of 83% without graft loss.

CONCLUSION

ICIs provide antitumor activity but substantial graft-related risk, while T-VEC and HPIs show high response rates with no reported rejection.