ABSTRACT
The concomitant presence of breast cancer with one or more other types of cancer such as colon, vulva, lung, larynx, liver, uterus and kidneys has been presented in the literature. However, synchronous breast and renal cancer is very uncommon. Herein we present a woman with synchronous breast and renal cancer, and review the literature. A 77-year-old post-menopausal woman was admitted to our clinic complaining of left sided breast mass. On physical examination, there was a 3 cm palpable mass in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast along with a conglomerate of lymph nodes in the left axilla. Ultrasonography and mammography showed a 3 cm solid, hypoechoic mass in the upper outer quadrant and left axillary lymphadenopathy. The tru-cut biopsy of the lesion revealed invasive ductal carcinoma. The bone scintigraphy, thoracic and cranial computerized tomographies were normal. The abdominal computerized tomography identified a 3×3 cm solid renal mass with heterogeneous contrast enhancement in the posterior segment of the lower pole, which was suspicious for renal cell carcinoma. Breast conserving surgery and axillary lymph node dissection was performed, and the pathology specimen demonstrated invasive ductal carcinoma. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 5. Three weeks later partial nephrectomy was performed by urology department for the solid renal mass, and the pathology result showed clear cell-renal carcinoma with Fuhrman grade 3. The patient is being followed-up for renal carcinoma, and underwent radiotherapy for breast cancer. Hormonotherapy for breast cancer is still continuing.
ABSTRACT
HLA typing is the cornerstone of kidney transplantation. Here, we present two full-match kidney transplants with early uneventful course but late c4d-mediated rejection and recurrent pauce-immune necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis, as each in one. Case 1: A 49 years old Caucasian female patient, received a six-matched cadaveric kidney and had nonspecific changes in 6th and 12th month protocol biopsies. The first and third year serum creatinin value was 1.8 and 2.0 mg/dl. Immunosuppressive drugs were gradually reduced due to recurrent infections at the 3rd year. She admitted with allograft dysfunction and serum creatinin 5.8 mg/dl. Kidney biopsy of graft dysfunction at the 4th year was diagnosed C4d-mediated rejection. Case 2: A 61 years old Caucasian female patient received a HLA-identical kidney 8.5 years ago from her sibling had a primary vasculitis mediated necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis. Her serum creatinin values in the 1st and 8th years were 1.3 and 1.7 mg/dl. In recent years, immunosuppressive dosage has been gradually reduced due to recurrent lower respiratory tract infections. She admitted with hematuria, purpuric rash, dyspnea. and serum creatinin 5.7 mg/dl. Renal biopsy revealed necrotizing crescentic glomerulonephritis. The patient was treated with pulse steroid, double filtration plasmapheresis and rituximab. She is being followed with a functioning graft and with serum creatinin 2.0 mg/dl. In case of recurrent infection, immunosuppressive drugs should be modified cautiously even in patients with full-match grafts to prevent late acute rejection or recurrence of the primary disease.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Target of rapamycin inhibitors have presented similar graft and patient outcomes with no evidence of drug-induced nephrotoxicity when compared with calcineurin inhibitors. The principal aim of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of sirolimus-based triple immunosuppression with antithymocyte globulin induction in expanded donor kidney transplantation. METHODS: Twenty-seven primary expanded criteria donor kidney transplant recipients were recruited. The severity of kidney damage was qualified by zero-hour biopsies. Protocol biopsies were performed at 1 year to assess the chronic allograft damage. Death, graft function, proteinuria and adverse events were systematically analysed during the study period. RESULTS: The mean follow up was 20.2 months. Patient and graft survival was 100% with a mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 53.1+/-4.9 mL/min at last follow up. The cumulative incidence of acute rejection was 11% at the last follow up. At 1 year, mean creatinine, GFR and proteinuria were 1.84 mg/dL, 52.3 mL/min, 651.5 mg/day, respectively. Four patients required surgical intervention due to urinary complications and recovered successfully. Two patients developed acute graft dysfunction due to acute tubular necrosis which was presumably drug related. Ten patients developed relapsing urinary tract infections and three patients had pneumonia. No infectious death occurred throughout the study period. Baseline renal structure was preserved in 13 biopsies at 1 year post transplant. Five patients demonstrated progressive but mild tubular atrophy or interstitial fibrosis in their protocol biopsies. The mean chronic allograft damage index scores at baseline and at 1 year from biopsy were 2.57+/-0.23 and 2.83+/-0.23, respectively (P=0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose sirolimus-based triple immunosuppression with antibody induction offered a safe clinical outcome in expanded criteria donor kidneys with the achievement of stable renal function and favourable recipient outcomes throughout the short term. However, mild progression of histological damage and increased risk of bacterial infection are a major concern. Additionally, the benefit (if any) of the low acute rejection rate on long-term graft outcome is still undetermined.