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Post-Transplant Events

Nonhematologic malignancies after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: incidence and molecular monitoring

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 34, pages 981–985 (2004)Cite this article

Summary:

Survivors of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are at a life-long increased risk of secondary nonhematologic malignancies. In 615 adult Chinese allogeneic HSCT patients, nine developed nonhematologic malignancies. The 5-year cumulative incidence was 6.1%, 4.5 times the background cancer incidence. Early-onset (within first 6 months) and late-onset (>3 years) subtypes were observed. Secondary cancers included hepatocellular carcinoma, oral and esophageal squamous cell tumors and lung adenocarcinoma in a female nonsmoker. The spectrum reflected local cancer epidemiology, which was different from Western populations. The pathogenesis might be related to acceleration of pre-existing cancers (early-onset type), or prolonged immunosuppression (late-onset type). DNA chimerism studies showed that all tumors were recipient-derived. In the plasma, DNA in all cases was apparently donor-derived, although aberrantly methylated p15 was detectable in a patient with a p15-methylated secondary cancer, implying that minute quantities of tumor (and therefore recipient) derived DNA might be present.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong

    W-Y Au, E C Chan, A Pang, A K W Lie, R Liang & Y-L Kwong

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong

    A P W Yuen

  3. Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong

    T W H Shek

Authors
  1. W-Y Au
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  2. E C Chan
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  3. A Pang
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  4. A K W Lie
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  5. R Liang
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  6. A P W Yuen
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  7. T W H Shek
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  8. Y-L Kwong
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Correspondence to Y-L Kwong.

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Au, WY., Chan, E., Pang, A. et al. Nonhematologic malignancies after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: incidence and molecular monitoring. Bone Marrow Transplant 34, 981–985 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1704674

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1704674

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