Switching immunosuppression reduces the risk of kidney cancer

The move to a new type of immunosuppressive drugs may reduce the high rate of skin cancer after kidney transplant, according to research at the American Society of Nephrology 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exhibition presented at San Diego, CA. "Despite the type of rescue organ transplantation, the need for transplant patients treated with drugs that prevent the immune system rejecting the organ, continues to suppress a number of side effects, one of which is cancer development matters, "said lead researchers Graeme Russ, MD (The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Australia). "Thus the search for an immunosuppressant, effectively prevents rejection is his, but at a lower rate of cancer of the substantial benefit of the transplant recipient.

The study included 86 patients with renal transplantation, earlier skin cancer (except melanoma), with a particularly high risk for skin cancer. In Australia, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer after transplantation.

A group of patients remained on standard immunosuppressive drugs. The other group was called to treatment with sirolimus put in motion a new class of immunosuppressive mTOR inhibitors. "Previous studies have shown that mTOR inhibitors, with less disease than others associated with them are often used, says Russ.

Patients receiving sirolimus had turned on a significantly lower rate of skin cancer. Total skin cancer again in 56 percent of patients in the sirolimus group developed, compared to 81 percent of those who remained on standard immunosuppressive. Most of the difference reflects a lower rate for a type of cancer than squamous cell carcinoma.

Almost half the patients remained on sirolimus because of adverse events. "Despite the large dropout rate, there was a significantly lower rate of development of skin cancer in the sirolimus group," said Russ. Conversion to sirolimus did not increase the risk of rejection of transplanted kidneys.

Switching Immunosuppressants may have a further option to reduce the risk of skin cancer among transplant patients, researchers believe. Russ said: "This agreement is the first randomized controlled trial to determine whether patients treated with mTOR inhibitors in renal transplantation have less skin cancer."