Purpose: Optimal management and clinical outcome of bladder cancer in renal transplant recipients are not well-defined. We analyzed single institution treatment strategies and outcomes of these patients.
Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the University of California, San Francisco transplant database which contains information on 6,288 renal transplants performed between 1964 and 2002. The United Network for Organ Sharing database and Israel Penn International Transplant Tumor Registry were also queried to characterize the global nature of bladder cancer in renal transplant recipients.
Results: The United Network for Organ Sharing database (1986 to 2001) contained information on 31 patients who were found to have bladder cancer (0.024% prevalence) and the Israel Penn International Transplant Tumor Registry (1967 to 2001) contained information on 135 patients representing 0.84% of all reported malignancies. We identified 7 renal transplant recipients with bladder cancer at our institution. Invasive transitional cell carcinoma developed in 5 patients at a median of 2.8 years after transplant. Three patients underwent uncomplicated radical cystectomy and preservation of the renal allograft. Overall survival at 48 months was 60%.
Conclusions: Bladder cancer after renal transplantation is not common. For patients who present with invasive disease, traditional extirpative surgery should be considered. Moreover, the allograft is rarely the source of transitional cell carcinoma and can be preserved. In our experience the cancer and urinary outcomes compare favorably with nontransplant patient outcomes after treatment.