title: The haptoglobin phenotype influences the risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in kidney transplant patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most frequent skin cancer after organ transplantation. Currently, the pre-identification of transplant patients at increased risk for non-melanoma skin cancer remains difficult.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the Hp polymorphism as a marker for the identification of a subset of patients with an increased susceptibility to develop SCC/Bowen's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Haptoglobin phenotyping was performed with haemoglobin-supplemented starch gel electrophoresis in 300 kidney transplant patients. High-performance gel permeation chromatography was used in case of low serum haptoglobin concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cox regression analysis (adjusted for age, gender and Mediterranean origin) showed a significant association of the Hp 1-1 phenotype with a higher risk of SCC/Bowen's disease (P = 0.035) and multiple primary SCCs (P = 0.002). No significant difference between the Hp phenotypes was found for the development of Bowen's disease and SCCs in the first 10 years following renal transplantation. However, after a follow-up of >10 years, a significant association between the Hp 1-1 phenotype and the occurrence of Bowen's disease and SCC was reported (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows an increased risk for the development of (multiple) SCCs in kidney transplant patients with the Hp 1-1 phenotype. This finding points to the role of Hp 1-1 phenotype as an important predictor in identifying a subset of patients with an increased need for preventive measures and is in agreement with the decreased anti-inflammatory capacity of this phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speeckaert
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brochez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van Geel
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Speeckaert
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Claeys
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Langlois
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Laer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Delanghe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D006242:Haptoglobins