A population-based study of 135 lymphomas after solid organ transplantation: The role of Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis C and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma subtype in clinical presentation and survival.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) plays a major role in the development of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), but there is an increasing awareness of EBV-negative PTLD. The clinical presentation of EBV-negative PTLD has not been as well characterised as EBV-positive cases. Further, there is limited knowledge on the clinical importance of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell of origin subtype post-transplant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the role of EBV, hepatitis C (HCV) and DLBCL subtype in clinical presentation and survival in 135 post-transplant lymphomas diagnosed 1980-2006 in a population-based cohort of 10 010 Swedish solid organ transplant recipients. The lymphomas were re-evaluated according to WHO 2008, examined for EBV, and clinical data were collected from medical records. RESULTS: Lymphoma incidence rate was 159/100 000 person-years and is also reported by lymphoma subtype. EBV-negative lymphomas constituted 48% and were associated with HCV infection (p = 0.02), bone marrow involvement (p < 0.001), and T-cell phenotype (p = 0.002). Among DLBCL, 78% were of non-germinal centre subtype, which was associated with EBV-positivity (69%, p = 0.001), early occurrence (p = 0.03), heart/liver/lung/pancreas recipients (p = 0.02), anti-T-cell globulin (p = 0.001), and tacrolimus treatment (p = 0.02). DLBCL subtypes had similar overall survival. Five-year overall survival was 42% in all treated patients. Independent poor prognostic factors were older age, B symptoms, ECOG 2-4, kidney/pancreas/heart recipients, T-cell lymphoma, and HCV-infection. CONCLUSIONS: With long follow-up, a large part of PTLD is EBV-negative, due to a high proportion of T-cell lymphomas and low of polymorphic PTLD. EBV-negative PTLD have a different clinical presentation. HCV may play an aetiological role in late-onset PTLD and was revealed as a new prognostic factor for inferior survival that needs to be confirmed in larger studies. The heavier immunosuppression in non-kidney transplantations seems to play a role in the development of non-germinal centre DLBCL. DLBCL cell of origin subtype lacks prognostic importance in the transplant setting.

No association between infections, HLA type and other transplant-related factors and risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in solid organ transplant recipients.

Recipients of solid organ transplants are at a markedly increased risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We investigated potential associations between post-transplant infections, HLA type, and other transplant-related factors and risk of SCC, taking immuno-suppressive treatment into account. A population-based case-control study was conducted. All patients who developed SCC during follow-up (1970-1997) were eligible as cases (n = 207). Controls (n = 189) were individually matched to the cases on age and calendar period of transplantation. Detailed exposure information was collected through an extensive, blinded review of medical records. Odds ratios were computed with conditional logistic regression. There were no significant associations with any infectious agents, or with number and timing of infections, specific HLA-type, donor characteristics, or other transplant characteristics and risk of post-transplant SCC. These results suggest that risk of post-transplant SCC is neither closely related to specific post-transplant infectious disorders, nor to the infectious load or specific HLA types.

Genetic variation in chromosomal translocation breakpoint and immune function genes and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 10 (IL10) are promising candidate susceptibility genes for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Chromosomal translocation breakpoint genes are of interest, given their documented involvement in lymphoma progression. METHODS: We analyzed 11 polymorphisms in BCL2, CCND1, MYC, TNF, and IL10 in a large, population-based, Danish-Swedish case-control study including 2,449 NHL cases and 1,980 controls. Relative risk of NHL was computed as odds ratios (OR). RESULTS: There was no clear evidence of associations between variants in BCL2, CCND1, and MYC and risk of NHL overall or subtypes. TNF rs1800629 was associated with risk of NHL (OR 1.53, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.06-2.19 for minor allele homozygosity), T-cell lymphoma (OR 2.54, CI 1.27-5.09) and mantle cell lymphoma (OR 2.84, CI 1.38-5.87). IL10 rs1800890 was associated with risk of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (OR 1.41, CI 1.08-1.85 for minor allele homozygosity) and mantle cell lymphoma (OR 1.77, CI 1.04-3.00). We did not replicate a previously reported interaction with autoimmunity. CONCLUSIONS: We found no support for a role of the studied variants in BCL2, CCND1, or MYC in risk of NHL or subtypes, but we provide further evidence of putative susceptibility loci in TNF and IL10 for specific NHL subtypes.

Immunosuppressive treatment after solid organ transplantation and risk of post-transplant cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is found to be substantially increased after organ transplantation. The association with specific immunosuppressive regimens has been previously investigated, but results are not concordant. We aimed to clarify the relationship between separate immunosuppressive drugs, drug load, timing and risk of post-transplant CSCC. METHODS: A population-based nested case-control study was performed in the Swedish organ transplantation cohort (n = 5931). All patients who developed CSCC during the follow-up (1970-97) were eligible as cases (n = 207). Controls (n = 189) were randomly selected from the cohort and individually matched to the cases on follow-up time, age at and calendar period of transplantation. Exposure information was collected through extensive and standardized review of medical records. RESULTS: The median time to CSCC was 6.7 years. Post-transplant azathioprine (Aza) treatment considerably increased the risk of CSCC during all time periods analysed, and the risk augmented with increasing dose and duration. Patients who after the entire follow-up period had received a high accumulated dose of Aza had an 8.8-fold increased risk of CSCC in multivariate analysis (P < 0.0001), compared to patients never treated with Aza. Additionally, a high accumulated dose of corticosteroids during the same period conferred a 3.9-fold elevated risk of CSCC (P = 0.09), compared to the lowest accumulated dose of corticosteroids. Cyclosporine treatment was not associated with the risk of CSCC post-transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that Aza treatment, but not cyclosporine treatment, is strongly associated with post-transplant CSCC risk. The results suggest that the risk of CSCC after organ transplantation is not only an effect of the immunosuppressive load per se.

Tobacco use, body mass index, and the risk of leukemia and multiple myeloma: a nationwide cohort study in Sweden.

In a prospective cohort study of more than 330,000 Swedish construction workers, we explored the effect of tobacco smoking, oral moist snuff use, and body mass index (BMI) on the risk of developing leukemia (excluding chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and multiple myeloma (MM). Study subjects were participants of a health surveillance system within the building industry. Record linkage to the nationwide Swedish cancer registry, migration registry, and cause of death registry made a comprehensive follow-up available. A total of 372 incident cases of leukemia and 520 subjects with MM was ascertained. An increase in risk of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) was observed in current smokers (incidence rate ratio, 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-2.11). Furthermore, there was an indication of a possible association between smoking intensity and risk of acute lymphocytic leukemia. Results on snuff use as well as BMI showed no association. This study confirms the role of smoking as a risk factor for AML and gives no support to the hypothesis of a role of snuff use or BMI level on the risk of leukemia or MM.

Tobacco use, body mass index and the risk of malignant lymphomas--a nationwide cohort study in Sweden.

In the search for risk factors involved in the etiology of lymphoproliferative malignancies there is still inconsistent evidence regarding effects of smoking tobacco, and the role of smokeless tobacco is poorly investigated. New evidence indicates that excess body weight increases the risk of NHL and HD. To determine if tobacco use of various forms and high Body Mass Index (BMI) affect the occurrence of these neoplasms, we conducted a prospective cohort study on over 330,000 Swedish construction workers included in the Construction Industry Working Environment and Health program. Information on smoking, snuff dipping, height and weight was gathered by self administered questionnaires together with personal interviews. Cancer incidence was ascertained through the year 2000 by record linkage to the nationwide Swedish Cancer Registry, Migration Registry and Cause of Death Registry. At the end of follow up, 1,309 subjects had been diagnosed with NHL (including chronic lymphocytic leukemia) and 205 with HD respectively. Age adjusted incidence rate ratios were computed using Cox proportional Hazard regression modeling. Smoking cigarette, pipe or cigar was not associated with NHL or HD. There was no evidence indicating a relation between quantity and duration of smoking and NHL or HD risk. No link was found between NHL and usage of smokeless tobacco. Having a BMI of 30 or higher did not convey excess risk of developing NHL or HD compared to normal weight (BMI 18.6-24.9). We conclude that tobacco smoking and high BMI do not entail an increased risk of NHL and HD. Our findings of a relation between the duration of snuff dipping and HD need further investigation.