People who have undergone liver transplants are at a greater risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and colorectal cancer, say researchers.
People who have undergone liver transplants are at a greater risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and colorectal cancer, say researchers.
A new Canadian study led by Ying Jiang of the Public Health Agency of Canada has shown that liver transplant recipients have higher cancer risk than the general population.
Liver Transplantation - Facts, Contraindications, Procedure, Follow up, Complications & Prognosis
Liver transplantation is a surgical option for the treatment of liver failure where the diseased liver is replaced with a healthy one.
Liver transplantation is a surgical option for the treatment of liver failure where the diseased liver is replaced with a healthy one.
The researchers analysed the data of 2,034 patients who received a transplant between June 1983 and October 1998, and followed them for up to 15 years.
They excluded patients who had liver cancer or who had been diagnosed with any other type of cancer (except for non-melanoma skin cancer) before transplantation.
Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
Non Hodgkins Lymphoma is a cancer that affects the lymph tissues. It is made up of a wide array of subtypes.
Non Hodgkins Lymphoma is a cancer that affects the lymph tissues. It is made up of a wide array of subtypes.
Moreover liver transplant patients were at an approximate twenty-fold increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Advertisements
Colorectal Cancer - Types, Causes, Risk Factors, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis & Prevention
Colorectal cancer is a cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men.
Colorectal cancer is a cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men.
"As a proportion of all cancers, it represented 55.8 percent of the absolute excess number of cancers among liver transplant patients," they added.
Advertisements
Liver Cancer Treatment
Liver Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the liver. The present section provides a graphic description of the various forms of liver cancer treatment in addition to the latest techniques such as Chemoembolisation and Radio frequency Ablation.
Liver Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the liver. The present section provides a graphic description of the various forms of liver cancer treatment in addition to the latest techniques such as Chemoembolisation and Radio frequency Ablation.
"Our findings firmly support an increased incidence of cancer in this patient population," said authors.
"We recommend increased surveillance for cancer in these patients, and screening for colorectal cancer using modalities for which benefits are already well recognized," they added.
Joseph F. Buell of the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine agrees that as long-term survival increases for transplant recipients, cancer is becoming the predominant threat to patient longevity.
"This study highlights several important observations. The increased incidence of cancer appears to be directly related to the intensity and length of immunosuppression, and the link between viral infection and malignancy is strong," he said.
"Currently, two immunosuppressive agents have shown protective effects against the development of cancer," Buell points out. Mycophenolic acid and TOR inhibitors may provide an oncologic advantage for liver transplant recipients," he added.
The findings are published in the November issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal by John Wiley and Sons.
Source-ANI
SRM/SK
