Donor-Derived Small Cell Lung Cancer Can Result From Kidney Transplant

Donor-derived small cell lung cancer and Cushing's syndrome can occur as a result of the transplant of a kidney from a diseased donor, according to a report published in the journal Cancer.

Dr. Mark R. Albertini of the University of Wisconsin at Madison said a 25-year-old women who received a kidney from a living-related donor was diagnosed with Cushing syndrome 32 months after the transplant surgery.

The donor had been diagnosed with small cell carcinoma of the lung approximately 10 months after the transplant, Albertini said.

"On further evaluation, the kidney recipient was diagnosed with donor-derived small cell lung carcinoma of the transplanted kidney," he reported. "She was found to have extensive disease involving the liver and retroperitoneum."

He said that despite discontinuation of her immunosuppressive medications -- an approach that often causes complete tumor rejection -- "the disease progressed and cortisol levels remained elevated during 6 weeks of observation."

Albertini reported that the patient then was given six cycles of cisplatin, an alkylating agent that interferes with growth of cancer cells, and the chemotherapy drug etoposide, which resulted in "a complete remission of her donor-derived small cell carcinoma.

"At last follow-up, she was 12 months from completing her therapy and continued in complete remission," he reported.

Other sources: Cancer