Transmission of breast cancer by a single multiorgan donor to 4 transplant recipients

Yvette A.H. Matser, Matty L. Terpstra, Silvio Nadalin, George D. Nossent, Jan de Boer, Barbara C. van Bemmel, Susanne van Eeden, Klemens Budde, Susanne Brakemeier, Frederike J. Bemelman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report 4 cases of breast cancer transmission to transplant recipients from a single organ donor that occurred years after donation. The diagnosis of breast cancer was occult at the time of donation. All of the recipients developed a histologically similar type of breast cancer within 16 months to 6 years after transplantation. Three out of 4 recipients died as a result of widely metastasized disease. One of the recipients survived after transplant nephrectomy followed by cessation of immunosuppression and chemotherapy. This extraordinary case points out the often fatal consequences of donor-derived breast cancer and suggests that removal of the donor organ and restoration of immunity can induce complete remission.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1810-1814
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation
Volume18
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • clinical decision-making
  • clinical research/practice
  • complication: malignant
  • donors and donation: deceased
  • organ transplantation in general

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