Surgeons say they have had success with a controversial transplant technique that uses risky donor kidneys containing cancerous masses. So far five patients have been treated by the team at Baltimore's University of Maryland School of Medicine. The surgeons say the technique offers a vital lifeline to patients with end-stage renal failure who could die waiting for a healthy donor organ.
 
Before the transplants took place, the doctors said they had detailed discussions with the patients and the donors about the discovery of the cancer in the donor kidneys so that they were both aware of the risks, including recurrence of the cancer. None of the patients have developed cancer.    

This article originally appeared in the February 2010 issue of Kidney Transplant Today.