Skin cancer development is strongly associated with actinic keratosis in solid organ transplant recipients: a Danish cohort study

Background and objectives: Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are at increased risk of skin cancer and suffer from greater disease-specific morbidity and mortality. To risk stratify the expanding SOTR population for more targeted skin cancer screening, a detailed understanding of risk factors is needed. Using combined clinical and pathological data to capture prevalence of actinic keratosis (AK) and skin cancer, this study aimed to identify risk factors of skin cancer development in a Danish SOTR cohort. Methods: The trial comprised a retrospective cohort study of patients attending organ transplant clinics at the dermatological departments of Bispebjerg and Gentofte Hospitals in Copenhagen, Denmark between 2009-2021. In addition to pathology records, AK prevalence was determined by review of electronic medical records (EMR) of SOTR visits which specifically included descriptions of clinical AK. Prevalence of skin cancer, here defined as basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (invasive or in situ), or melanoma (invasive or in situ), was determined by EMR and pathology code review. Additional data extracted from EMRs included age, sex, Fitzpatrick skin type, and transplantation date, -type and immunosuppressive therapy. The effect of risk factors on skin cancer was calculated by Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: A total of 822 SOTRs were included with a mean follow-up duration of 10.8 years (SD 2.4 years). A skin dysplasia diagnosis was identified in 30% (n=250) of the population, consisting of either AK (22%; n=177), skin cancer (23% n=186), or both (14%; n=113). An AK diagnosis predicted both SCC (OR: 31.5 (95% CI 9.8-100.6), p<0.0001) and BCC development (OR: 2.3 (95% CI 1.6-3.3), p<0.0001), with AKs diagnosed an average 3.1 years before the first SCC (p<0.0001). Correspondingly while the risk of SCC in SOTRs without AK was 1.4% 25 years after transplantation, SOTRs with AKs had a 23% SCC risk only 10 years post-transplant. Other identified risk factors included Fitzpatrick skin type I (BCC: OR: 2.4 (95% CI 1.2-5.0), p=0.018; SCC: 3.2 (95% CI 1.2-8.2), p=0.016) and transplantation duration >15 years (BCC: OR 1.8 (95% CI 1.2 - 2.7), p=0.007). No significant association between skin cancer development and sex or immunosuppressive regimen was shown. Conclusion: Keratinocyte carcinoma is strongly associated with an AK diagnosis in SOTRS and should prompt intensified skin cancer screening in affected individuals.

Automated summary

This study aimed to identify risk factors for skin cancer development in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs). The results showed that a diagnosis of actinic keratosis (AK) was strongly associated with the development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in SOTRs. Therefore, intensified skin cancer screening should be conducted in SOTRs with AK diagnosis.