Bone marrow transplants:new cancer risk

New evidence suggests that there is a risk of solid cancers after bone marrow transplantation (BMT).

This risk was revealed in a study of 2129 patients, who had BMT for haematological (blood) malignancies, followed for more than 20 years. In all, 29 patients developed solid cancers, representing a twofold increased risk compared with the healthy population. The most common solid cancer sites were the liver, mouth and cervix. The researchers also found that those who were under 34 years of age at the time of BMT were at greater risk of chronic graft versus host disease (J Clin Oncol, 2001; 19; 464-71).

Related WDDTY Content

Bone-marrow transplants

Q:Please tell me the success rate for bone-marrow transplants in patients with leukemia. L G, Norwich. ...

Cancer link to bone marrow transplants

Bone marrow transplants often used to treat leukemia and other malignant diseases dramatically increase the risk of cancer. ...

Bone marrow transplants trigger diabetes

Long term survivors of bone marrow transplants have a substantial risk of developing insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance and type II diabet...

Hrt new evidence of cancer risks

A major re-analysis of the worldwide evidence linking breast cancer with HRT has concluded that the risk of the disease increased in women using HRT a...

Marrow transplants don’t work for breast cancer

Few stories in medicine are as sobering as the American experience with autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) for treating breast cancer. It h...

Endometrial cancer risk greater with tamoxifen

New evidence from two studies show that women who take tamoxifen to prevent or treat breast cancer are at greater risk of endometrial abnormalities, i...