Bladder cancer in renal allograft recipients: risk factors and outcomes.

Abstract Background Solid organ transplant recipients have an increased cancer risk owing to immunosuppression and oncogenic viral infections. We report on the incidence and types of bladder cancer in kidney transplant recipients in Ireland, describing possible additional risk factors and outcomes in these patients. Methods We identified kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with de novo bladder cancer between January 1, 1994, and July 31, 2012, by integrating data from the Irish National Cancer Registry and National Renal Transplant Registry. We calculated the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and examined patient and tumor characteristics and 1-year survival rate. Results Fifteen patients were diagnosed with de novo bladder cancer during the study period, representing 0.48% of kidney transplant recipients. The SIR was 2.5 (95% CI, 1.4–4.2; P Conclusion Bladder cancer occurred more commonly in kidney transplant recipients with a predominance of aggressive tumors and a high mortality. In patients with preexisting risk factors such as urologic abnormalities and cyclophosphamide exposure careful assessment before transplantation and vigilant monitoring posttransplantation with a low threshold for cystoscopy may improve outcomes.