The study also indicates that certain patient characteristics that are known at the time of transplantation have a significant effect on recipients' increased risk of cancer. (Non-skin cancer was associated with increasing age and previous smoking history; skin cancer was associated with increasing age, non-brown eye color, fairer skin, and a functioning transplant.) Therefore, patients at especially high risk can be monitored more closely and use preventive measures to protect against cancer.

The authors noted that immune suppressive treatments have evolved since the trial was designed 20 years ago. It is likely that today's immunosuppressive regimens, which are better at preventing acute rejection, are more potent at immunosuppression.

The article, entitled "Long-Term Cancer Risk of Immunosuppressive Regimens after Kidney Transplantation," will appear online at jasn.asnjournals/ on April 29, 2010, doi 10.1681/ASN.2009101043.

SOURCE Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN)