Two‐year incidence of malignancy in sirolimus‐treated renal transplant recipients: results from five multicenter studies*

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Abstract
Abstract:  We examined the rates of malignancy at 2 yr after transplantation in renal allograft patients receiving sirolimus (SRL) in continuous combination with cyclosporine (CsA), SRL as base therapy or SRL maintenance therapy after early withdrawal of CsA. A total of 1295 patients were enrolled in two double‐blind studies comparing SRL with azathioprine (AZA) or placebo administered in continuous regimens with CsA. In two other trials (n = 161), SRL given as base therapy was compared with CsA. In the fifth trial, patients were randomly assigned at 3 months to either remain on CsA + SRL therapy (n = 215) or to have CsA eliminated with SRL being continued in concentration‐controlled doses (n = 215). At 2 yr after transplantation, patients receiving SRL in continuous combination with CsA had a significantly lower incidence of skin cancer compared with patients receiving placebo. Patients receiving SRL as base therapy had no malignancies compared with a 5% incidence in those receiving CsA. The incidence of malignancy was significantly lower in patients receiving concentration‐controlled SRL with elimination of CsA compared with those who remained on CsA + SRL. Based on the currently available data, patients receiving SRL‐based therapy without CsA or SRL maintenance therapy after early CsA withdrawal have lower rates of malignancy in the first 2 yr after renal transplantation. SRL immunotherapy may be beneficial in protecting renal transplant patients from skin cancer even when given in combination with CsA.