Clinical Equipoise and Unimproved Outcomes following Post-Transplant Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Crisp THJ., Peleva E., Abbott R., Ahmed R., Archer C., Babu A., Bailey P., Bhandary N., Cernova J., Darvay A., Gamble J., Gauci M., Griffin S., Karn E., Matin R., Moriarty J., Muirhead N., Nawab K., Owen A., Ruiz E., Shah F., Sharif A., Solomon B., Thuraisingham R., Wakefield H., Wallin E., Wijayawickrama B., Harwood CA., Bottomley MJ.
Introduction Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the most common malignancy following solid organ transplantation. Historical data suggest that 25% of kidney transplant recipients develop additional CSCC within a year of their first lesion, with significantly increased risks of metastasis and mortality. However, contemporary outcomes and optimal secondary prevention strategies remain unclear. Methods We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study across eight UK transplant centers, identifying 136 kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with first-ever CSCC between 2016 and 2020. Results Over a median follow-up of 39 months, 48.5% developed further CSCC, and 23.3% died, most commonly from malignancy. Poor outcomes were confirmed in another, international, cohort. Management varied within and between UK centers and 28.7% underwent immunosuppression reduction, though specific approaches were inconsistent. Distinct clinical and histopathological features were associated with recurrence risk and poorer outcomes, including multiple index lesions, high-risk histopathology and current smoking. Conclusion These findings confirm that contemporary post-CSCC outcomes remain unchanged from historic outcomes, despite advances in transplant care. The variability in management after first CSCC highlights the need for prospective studies to define effective interventions for secondary prevention. Importantly, we identify important clinical features present at first CSCC that may guide targeting of such interventions to the highest risk patients.