Background: Cancer is the main complication of transplantation surgery. The literature concerning renal transplant recipients among the Afro-Caribbean population is scant. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of cancer in these patients, with the secondary objective being to identify predisposing factors for cancer.
Patients and methods: This was an epidemiological and retrospective study that included all Guadeloupians of phototype V-VI undergoing renal transplantation from 01/01/2004 to 31/12/2011. Skin cancer screening was performed before transplantation and during an annual dermatological consultation following transplantation. Screening for non-cutaneous cancers was guided by clinical symptoms or by the results of the screening examinations recommended in the current guidelines. At the study time-point (31/12/2011), all patients were examined by a dermatologist.
Results: One hundred and two patients were included : 42 women and 60 men (mean age: 52.1±11.6 years at transplantation). Eight cancers were diagnosed. The cumulative incidence of cancer was 7.8% at 3 years. Three factors were associated with more rapid onset of cancer: personal history or familial history of cancer, and genital lesion induced by HPV.
Conclusion: Our results suggest a low incidence of cancer in Afro-Caribbean renal transplant patients. Personal or family history of cancer and HPV-induced genital lesions would appear to accelerate the onset of cancer in this population.
Keywords: Afro-Caribbean; Afro-Caribéens; Antilles; Cancer; Skin phototype; Transplantation; West Indies.
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