The results of a study published in Transplantation found transplant patients have worse outcomes from cancer. Previous data shows transplant recipients are at an increased risk for developing cancer, but outcomes of cancer have not been fully researched until now.
 
The study compared transplant recipients and the general population and discovered transplant patients were more likely to have early stage renal cell (kidney) cancer and more advanced colon, breast, bladder and skin cancer at the time of diagnosis. Disease-specific survival was worse in the transplant population for each of these cancers and was a negative risk factor for survival.
 
Researchers are currently trying to determine if the use of immunosuppressive drugs contributes to poorer cancer outcomes for transplant patients.