title: Breast cancer after kidney transplantation: a single institution review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Improvements in immunosuppression have resulted in long life expectancy of kidney transplants. Unfortunately, the incidence of post-transplant malignancy (PTM) is increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nature and stage-specific prognosis of post-transplant breast cancer (PTBC) compared with breast cancer in the general population, and to suggest optimal treatment strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A database of 2,139 consecutive kidney transplant patients was reviewed;11 of the patients developed breast cancer. These 11 PTBC cases underwent operations between 1999 and 2011. Next, 2,554 breast cancer patients treated in the same period were reviewed. Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test were used to assess stage-specific survival of breast cancer in our hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 142 cases experienced post-transplant malignancy (PTM; 6.6%) and 11 (0.5%) developed PTBC. No one required an adjusted dose of immunosuppressive agent. Two stage III patients died. For all breast cancer patients, 5-year survival by stage was 97.7% for stage I, 92.9% for stage II, 78.6% for stage III, and 49.9% for stage IV. The 5-year survival for expected stage III-specific survival was 66.7% and no significant statistical difference was seen compared to that of the total breast cancer patients (P = 0.213).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prognosis of PTBC was comparable to that of the general population. These results suggest that the use of immunosuppressants per se does not adversely affect breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee-Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Byung-Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Ja-Seong
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Sang-Seol
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Byung-Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012042:Registries; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents