Clinical and Genetic Factors Associated with Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Kidney and Heart Transplant Recipients.

Abstract

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) occurs with higher frequency and recurrence rates, increased morbidity and mortality, and more aggressive metastasis in kidney and heart transplant recipients compared to the general population but all transplant recipients do not develop cSCC. In addition, the phenotypic expression of cSCC among transplant recipients can vary between mild disease to extensive recurrent metastatic disease. These clinically observed differences in occurrence and severity of cSCC among transplant recipients suggest the possibility that an underlying genetic component might modify risk.