Donor Derived and BK Virus Positive Urologic Cancers After Renal Transplantation.

V. Hellström,¹ G. Tufveson,¹ A. Wallgren,² A. Loskog,² E. Larsson,² T. Töttermann,² M. Bengtsson,² A. Laurell,² C. Lundberg,¹ B. Holmström,¹ G. Enblad,² T. Lorant.¹

¹Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
²Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Meeting: 2017 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: A188

Keywords: Kidney transplantation, Polyma virus, Post-transplant malignancy

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session A: Kidney Complications I

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Saturday, April 29, 2017

Session Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm

Presentation Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm

Location: Hall D1

Background. Donor-derived tumours in organ recipients develop from donor tissue with no known pre-existing malignancy in the donor. In addition, polyoma BK virus (BKV) might contribute to tumour development in the urinary tract. We hypothesised that urologic malignancies in renal transplant recipients are more frequently donor-derived and BKV positive than previously thought.

Methods. In this retrospective study at Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden, 11 patients with malignancies of the urinary tract and 4 patients with malignancies in kidney transplants were investigated. Donor/recipient origin of tumour tissue was analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes or by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH analysis) of sex chromosomes. HLA genotype and sex chromosomes of the tumour were compared to the known HLA genotype and sex chromosomes of recipient and donor. BKV was tested by immunostaining with polyoma virus large T-antigen.

Results. Three of ten cancers of the urinary tract and two of four cancers in the kidney transplants were donor-derived. One cancer could not be analyzed due to HLA identical donor of the same gender. Five of eleven tumours in the urinary tract, but no cancers of the renal allografts, stained positive for BKV.

Conclusions. The incidence of donor-derived tumours is five times higher than earlier anticipated. Forty-five per cent of the cancers in the urinary tract were BKV positive. We suggest that urologic malignancies in renal transplant recipients should be investigated for transplant origin as well as presence of BKV. In addition to conventional therapy the allograft immune response against these tumours offers new options for cancer treatment such as immunomodulatory or antiviral treatments in combination with modified immunosuppression.

CITATION INFORMATION: Hellström V, Tufveson G, Wallgren A, Loskog A, Larsson E, Töttermann T, Bengtsson M, Laurell A, Lundberg C, Holmström B, Enblad G, Lorant T. Donor Derived and BK Virus Positive Urologic Cancers After Renal Transplantation. Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Hellström V, Tufveson G, Wallgren A, Loskog A, Larsson E, Töttermann T, Bengtsson M, Laurell A, Lundberg C, Holmström B, Enblad G, Lorant T. Donor Derived and BK Virus Positive Urologic Cancers After Renal Transplantation. [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2017; 17 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/donor-derived-and-bk-virus-positive-urologic-cancers-after-renal-transplantation/. Accessed May 29, 2025.

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