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TransplantBuddies.org Forums » Medications - Dental - Skin » Immune Cell Levels Predict Skin Cancer Risk After Transplant « Previous Next »
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cruizin
Member
Username: Cruizin

Post Number: 63
Registered: 09-2010
Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2011 - 05:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I thought this was relevant news. Hopefully they can do meaningful tests down the road based on this research.

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WASHINGTON—Measuring certain types of immune cells may predict the high risk of skin cancer after kidney transplantation, according to a study appearing online Jan. 28 in the Journal of the American Society Nephrology.

"There are differences in the immune system, and some of these are associated with the development of skin cancer after transplantation," said Robert Carroll, MD, of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia.

The researchers measured levels of key immune cells in 116 kidney transplant recipients, 65 of whom developed squamous cell skin cancers. "We were hoping to see if there were differences in the immune systems of patients who developed skin cancer after transplantation compared to those who did not develop skin cancer," said Carroll.

The results showed that patients with high levels of an immune cell type called Tregulatory cells, or "Tregs" together with low levels of another type of immune cell, called Natural Killer cells, had risk more than five times higher. The high risk of skin cancers after kidney transplantation is related to the use of immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection.

"Squamous cell cancer of the skin affects about 30 percent of kidney transplant patients after ten years of immunosuppression," Carroll said. "A small number of patients develop multiple skin cancers per year, but there is no laboratory test to determine which transplant recipients will develop multiple skin cancers in the future."

If confirmed by future studies, measuring immune cells could provide a valuable new approach to predicting the risk of skin cancer after kidney transplantation. "If a test can confirm high risk of skin cancer development, this may help clinicians to tailor immunosuppressive regimens for individual patients," said Carroll.
The study was limited to British transplant patients. Well-designed scientific studies will be needed to determine whether the immune system test will apply to other populations of patients around the world, with different immunosuppressive regimens and differing exposure to ultraviolet light, according to the researchers.
Awaiting KTX
Dx 1995 - believed to be chronic glomerulonephritis
Started CAPD Oct 2008
Happy2Bhere
Forum Leader
Username: Happy2bhere

Post Number: 4001
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2011 - 11:00 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Cruisin,

I'm so very glad that you brought this subject up again. Skin cancers are a big problem for many of us. http://www.transplantbuddies.org/tbx/messages/13/358964.html?1295831419

Thanks for your info above.

Ol' Bob
Texas Bob
My Organ Donor Tees

Heart Transplant performed Jan 28th 1991
Bod Heart Transplant Story

Happy2Bhere's Blog

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