Simona Granata1†
Gianpaolo Tessari
Giovanni Stallone
Gianluigi Zaza- 1Renal, Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
- 2Section of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
In the last two decades, the optimization of organ preservation and surgical techniques, and the personalized immunosuppression have reduced the rate of acute rejections and early post-transplant complications. However, long-term graft survival rates have not improved over time, and evidence suggest a role of chronic calcineurin inhibitor toxicity in this failure. Solid organ transplant recipients may develop chronic dysfunction/damage and several comorbidities, including post-transplant malignancies. Skin cancers, mostly non-melanoma skin cancers (squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma), are the most common malignancies in Caucasian solid organ transplant recipients. Several factors, together with immunosuppression, may contribute to the susceptibility for skin cancers which, although often treatable, could be associated with a much higher mortality rate than in the general population. The rapid identification and treatment (including reduction of immunosuppression and early surgical treatments) have an important role to avoid an aggressive behavior of these malignancies. Organ transplant recipients with a history of skin cancer should be followed closely for developing new and metastatic lesions. Additionally, patient education on the daily use of sun-protective measures and the recognition of the early signs (self-diagnosis) of coetaneous malignancies are useful preventive measures. Finally, clinicians should make themselves aware of the problem and build, in every clinical follow-up center, collaborative network involving transplant clinicians, dermatologists and surgeons who should work together to easily identify and rapidly treat these complications.
In this review, we discuss the current literature regarding the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, preventive strategies and treatments of skin cancer in organ transplantation.
1. Introduction
In the last 20 years, improvements in organ preservation, optimization of surgical techniques, progress in post-operative care, and the introduction of more effective immunosuppressive drugs have led to significant advances in long-term graft and patient survival in organ transplantation. However, most transplant recipients experience systemic complications, often induced by over-immunosuppression, including malignancies (1–6).
Skin cancers, mostly non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) (squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma), represent the most common form of cancer in Caucasian solid organ transplant recipients, with a continuing increase in incidence worldwide (7, 8). Several factors, in addition to immunosuppression, may contribute to the skin cancer risk (including genetic background, older age, male sex, fair skin type, and ultraviolet exposure) and, even though frequently treatable, these malignancies may significantly increase morbidity and mortality of this fragile and complex patients’ population (7, 8).
Therefore, an early diagnosis and treatment of these skin lesions may improve post-transplant outcomes. To this purpose, transplant clinicians and researchers worldwide are increasing research study protocols based on a multidisciplinary approach (including dermatologists, biologists, pharmacologists, surgeons).
Furthermore, clinicians in charge of these patients should be aware of the high risk of skin cancer development after solid organ transplantation and acquire basic knowledge of its epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, preventive strategies and treatments.
2. Epidemiology
2.1. Actinic keratosis
Actinic keratoses (AKs) are cutaneous neoplasm consisting of proliferation of cytological aberrant epidermal keratinocytes, that develop in response to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. AKs are now considered the initial lesion in a disease continuum that may progress to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (9, 10). AKs are common in solid organ transplant recipients, up to 80% of them may present AKs, and approximately 30% of patients may have 5 or more AKs. AKs are a strong risk factor for SCC, both in the general population and in transplant recipients (9, 10).
2.2. Non melanoma skin cancers
Non melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), and especially basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), are the most common cancers observed in solid organ transplant recipients. The cumulative incidence of NMSC is related to geographic latitude, skin type, and immunosuppressive therapies. Australia has the highest incidence of NMSC in organ transplant recipients, with a 1-year, 10-year, and 20-year incidence of 7, 45, and 82%, respectively. In the United States, the 10-year incidence of NMSC is about 35%; lower rates (10–15%) are reported in Southern Europe (11–13). In Italy, it has been reported a 10-year incidence of NMSC of 10%, with a 3-year incidence of a second NMSC of 32% (14, 15). NMSCs occur after a median of 8 years after transplantation, except for patients transplanted after the age of 60, that may develop a NMSC after 3–5 years (16, 17). In transplanted patients, the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of SCC is between 65 to 250, and SIR of BCC is 10, with an inversion of BCC/SCC ratio (16, 17). BCC is more common in the first years after transplantation, and the risk increases in a linear fashion in the post-transplant time, but the risk of SCC increases in an exponential manner (18).
2.3. Merkel cell carcinoma
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive primary neuroendocrine skin cancer associated with infection with Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). In US transplant recipients, the overall incidence rate of MCC was 12.8 cases per 100,000 person-years, with a 24-fold elevation in risk, if compared with the general population. Seventy-three per cent of patients with MCC were older than 50 years at time of transplantation. MCC incidence was 70% higher in males, and 91% of MCC cases were in Caucasian patients (19, 20).
2.4. Melanoma
Melanoma is rare among renal transplant recipients. In a cohort of 105,174 renal transplant recipients, from the United States Renal Data System (USRDS), followed up in the years 2004–2012, only 448 patients (0.4%) developed a melanoma. The age-standardized relative rate of melanoma, if compared with the general population was 4.9 (21). In Italy, no excess risk of melanoma if compared with the general population has been described (22). Immunosuppressive drugs may enhance the development of nevi, due to reduced immunosurveillance and to local increased expression of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptors (23). The mean total count of benign nevi has been found to be significantly higher in renal transplant recipients, if compared with sex and age-matched healthy controls, and it was related to the duration of immunosuppression (24). Piaserico et al., described the eruption of up to 500 nevi in a 16-year-old boy 6 months after kidney transplantation. Most of these nevi disappeared after chronic rejection and withdrawal of immunosuppression (25). Other rare cutaneous neoplasms among transplant recipients, including B and T primary cutaneous lymphomas, atypical fibroxanthoma, verrucous carcinomas, and leiomyosarcoma, have been reported (26–28).
3. Risk factors
3.1. Immunosuppressive drugs
The type of immunosuppressive drug, the duration and the dosage of immunosuppression correlate with skin cancer risk (29–31). Azathioprine can also directly induce UVA-mediated DNA mutagenesis (32). SCC is the most frequent NMSC among solid organ transplant recipients receiving cyclosporine (33, 34). Calcineurin inhibition inhibits nucleotide excision repair, which is the exclusive repair mechanism for the two most common UV-mediated types of DNA damage leading to photo carcinogenesis: cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) and pyrimidine-6,4-pyrimidone photoproducts (6-4PP). Increased production of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-b), potentiation of the oncogene ATF3, decreased apoptosis following UVB, and interruption of nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) have also been demonstrated with cyclosporine, each increasing potential for malignancy (35, 36).
Tacrolimus-based regimens seem to reduce the incidence of NMSC, but with no general agreement. A retrospective analysis of over 35,000 American solid organ transplant recipients revealed a 35% risk reduction for NMSC associated with tacrolimus, and cyclosporine having a risk ratio of 1 (37). Two large studies failed to detect a difference in NMSC risk between tacrolimus and cyclosporine (38, 39). However, contradicting evidence also exists, suggesting for tacrolimus a 2-to 4-fold increased risk of NMSC compared with cyclosporine (40–42). Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF) seems to have less effect on photo-carcinogenesis than azathioprine and calcineurin inhibitors. A study demonstrated a 57% reduction in SCC risk in patients treated with MMF, if compared with patients receiving other immunosuppressive drugs (43). In liver transplant recipients, changing therapy from calcineurin inhibitors to MMF resulted in significantly lower rates of NMSC (hazard ratio 0.23) (44). Conversely, two retrospective analyses of heart transplant recipients failed to detect lower rates of malignancies in patients receiving MMF, if compared with mammalian target or rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors and azathioprine, respectively (45).
A recent meta-analysis reviewed the impact of sirolimus on cancer risk (46). When analyzing the whole cohort, the cumulative incidence of NMSC was lower in the sirolimus group if compared with a control group of patients treated with traditional immunosuppressive drugs, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.60. However, patients receiving sirolimus had an increased proportion of hematological malignancies (0.64% vs. 0.19%), and a similar incidence of non-cutaneous cancers (p = 0.65). Sirolimus use was associated with a 43% increased risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio 1.43). Cancer-related mortality was about 0.20% in both groups. Patients receiving sirolimus presented a higher proportion of death from infection (0.58% vs. 0.15%) and cardiovascular disease (1.28% vs. 0.54%). In a sub-analysis, the protective effect of sirolimus against cancer was significant only among patients who converted from traditional therapy to sirolimus based therapy. These benefits should be balanced against the increased risk of cardiovascular and infection-related mortality (47–49).
3.2. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection
Although the role of oncogenic human alpha-papillomaviruses in the development of mucosal carcinomas in different body sites (e.g., cervix, anus, oropharynx) is fully recognized, a possible role for human papillomavirus in actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been described (50–52).
Cutaneous SCCs are more frequent and more aggressive in solid organ transplant recipients compared with the general population (11). High prevalence (65–81%) and broad spectrum of HPV DNA types have been reported in premalignant skin lesions and in skin cancers of transplant recipients (53, 54).
A study by Reuschenbach et al., described a high-risk of HPV infection in 46.2% of the SCC of renal transplant recipients compared with 23.5% in the not transplanted control group (55). Moreover, a high prevalence of HPV was detected (by DNA and antibodies) in eyebrow hairs of kidney transplant recipients both with SCC and without SCC (56).
Although this interesting evidence, the exact contribution of HPV to the development of skin cancer in transplant recipients is still largely unrecognized.
3.3. UV exposure
Cumulative UV exposure appears to be a primary carcinogen; three-quarters of renal transplant NMSC cases occur on photo-exposed skin sites such as head, neck, upper limbs, and lower limbs (57). The mechanisms of photo carcinogenesis include direct DNA damage, UV effects on host immunity, and synergism with other drug-affected molecular pathways. Other strong risk factors for NMSC in solid organ transplant recipients include age at transplantation older than 50, fair skin, and male gender. In South African and in Asian studies, the incidence of NMSC was higher among Caucasian transplant recipients if compared with patients with African and Asian descent (58).
3.4. Other risk factors
Re-transplantation in patients with a previous SCC enhances the risk of future SCC (5, 45). Patients with life-saving organs such as heart, kidney-pancreas, and lung require intense immunosuppression and are about 2–3 times at higher risk of NMSC, if compared with kidney transplant recipients (30). Cumulative NMSC incidence following heart transplantation was 31% at 5 years and 43% at 10 years in an Australian cohort (30). Liver transplantation may have the lowest incidence of NMSC, possibly because the liver is less immunogenic and requires a minimal long-term immunosuppressive therapy (9, 59). Other risk factors for NMSC include personal history of NMSC, dialysis duration, smoking, and prophylaxis of fungal infections with voriconazole, possibly due to its photosensitive activity (11, 57, 58).
4. Treatment
Surgical excision of the entire lesion with adequate margins of clinically normal tissue around the tumor is the procedure of choice for any NMSC, especially in immunosuppressed patients, and exhaustive Italian guidelines have been recently published (60). NMSCs respond well to radiotherapy, and patients with unresectable carcinomas can expect excellent local control rates exceeding 90–95%. Adjuvant radiotherapy significantly reduces the risk of recurrence in SCC of the head and neck, and especially of the lower lip (hazard ratio 0.08). As reported in general population, complete lymph node dissection and postoperative radiotherapy could provide excellent freedom from locoregional relapse (61).
Moreover, as largely discussed in consensus expert panels, a recommended mild reduction in transplant-associated immunosuppression once multiple skin cancers developed per year or with individual high-risk skin cancers is largely suggested. Moderate reductions were considered appropriate when patients experienced >25 skin cancers per year or for skin cancers with a 3-year mortality risk of 10%. Severe reductions were considered for life-threatening skin cancers (62).
Immunosuppression can be modified by a decrease in the dose, or when using a multidrug regimen, it can be beneficial to eliminate one drug or to switch classes, for instance, from calcineurin inhibitors, which confer a higher risk, to mTOR inhibitors, which confer a lower risk (63). However, the decreased risk of cutaneous malignancy associated with sirolimus is balanced by an increased risk of serious adverse effects. The most common adverse events are edema, acneiform eruption, aphthous ulcers, and proteinuria (64). The risk–benefit ratio improves with lower doses of sirolimus and a low conversion rate from calcineurin inhibitors (65). Finally, immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) could represent a potential systemic therapeutic approach for the treatment of NMSCs in advanced and metastatic stages. However, since immunotherapy is not effective in all patients and can possibly induce severe adverse effects, a central clinical question is how to correctly recognize those patients who could be proper candidates for this therapeutic option. To this purpose, Zelin et al., (66) have recently reviewed the potential features and biomarkers used to predict the outcome of ICIs therapy for NMSCs in both general population and in organ transplant recipients. It is likely that time from transplantation and choice of immunosuppression could play a major role in defining the outcome in patients undergoing immunotherapy, although Abdel-Wahab et al. found no significant correlation between these factors (67). Additional studies are needed to address this important topic.
5. Prevention
Increased emphasis on a proactive rather than reactive approach to skin cancer is starting to show benefits for patient care (68). An Australian survey showed that renal transplant patients were more compliant with sun protection strategies than the general population (69), and regular and correct application of high sun protection factor sunscreen has demonstrated a reduced incidence of NMSC in transplanted patients (70). Early treatment of precancerous lesions (especially AKs) with cryotherapy or topical application of imiquimod or diclofenac is recommended (58). Photodynamic therapy with aminolevulinic acid is effective, well tolerated and is associated with a good cosmetic outcome (71). Cutaneous lesions that recur after non-surgical therapies need prompt biopsy or, if possible, radical excision, to rule out an NMSC. This strongly supports recommendations from SCOPE (Skin Care in Organ Transplant Patients, Europe) and ITSCC (International Transplant Skin Cancer Collaborative) that all solid organ transplant recipients, should be regularly followed up in a specialist dermatologist clinic to enhance early detection of lesions (72).
6. Chemoprophylaxis
Oral acitretin significantly decreased the rates of AKs and SCCs in the renal transplant and general population. Adverse effects are dose-related and include mucocutaneous xerosis, liver toxicity, arthralgia/myalgia (58, 73). Retinoids should be administered for many years, and rebound NMSC development on cessation may occur (58, 73). Nicotinamide 500 mg twice daily provides protection against photocarcinogenesis in the general population at high risk of NMSC, reducing the incidence of AKs and NMSCs by 13 and 23% (74), but with no general agreement (74). As nicotinamide is well tolerated and has few side effects, we propose that nicotinamide should be administered to all patients at risk of NMSC and actinic keratoses.
Author contributions
GT, SG, and GZ conceived and wrote this article. GS contributed to literature search and revised the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
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Keywords: solid organ transplantation, skin cancer, immunosuppression, cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas
Citation: Granata S, Tessari G, Stallone G and Zaza G (2023) Skin cancer in solid organ transplant recipients: still an open problem. Front. Med. 10:1189680. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1189680
Edited by:
Gerardo Ferrara, G. Pascale National Cancer Institute Foundation (IRCCS), ItalyReviewed by:
Angelo Valerio Marzano, University of Milan, ItalyCopyright © 2023 Granata, Tessari, Stallone and Zaza. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Gianluigi Zaza, gianluigi.zaza@unifg.it
†These authors have contributed equally to this work