Malignancies associated with renal transplantation.

An increased incidence of cancer occurs in renal homograft recipients. Malignancies may be inadvertently transplanted with the kidney from donors with cancer, or may arise de novo at some time after transplantation. The latter tumors occur on an average of thirty-four months after the operation. The most common tumors are carcinomas of the skin and lip, lymphomas (mostly reticulum cell sarcomas), and carcinomas of the cervix of the uterus. The lymphomas have a marked predilection for the central nervous system. Besides conventional cancer therapy, reduction or cessation of immunosuppression may be warranted. The development of malignancies is not a contraindication to renal transplantation since the over-all death rate from cancer in kidney homograft recipients is low.