The truth for cancer patients
Organ transplant recipients in Australia face a high risk of cancer, especially skin cancers, and their cancer-related death rate is two to three times higher than that of the general population.
This is largely due to the fact that doctors must carefully reduce immune suppression to help fight cancer, while still protecting the transplanted organ from rejection.
Dr Nida Saleem
Now, a multi-institutional study led by researcher, Dr Nida Saleem from Western Sydney Local Health District, in collaboration with Flinders University’s FHMRI and the University of Sydney, systematically reviewed data from 343 transplant recipients worldwide.
Made possible with support from Westmead Hospital Foundation, this study has shown that organ transplant patients with cancer may respond similarly to the general population to a type of cancer treatment called immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
“What excited me about this research is the possibility that ICIs may offer some of these patients a longer life with tailored care.
“By identifying who is most likely to benefit and who is at higher risk of complications, treatment decisions can be more personalised and made in partnership with patients,” Dr Saleem said.
