Complications of systemic retinoid therapy in organ transplant recipients with squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND. Organ transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive medications are at increased risk of cutaneous malignancies. OBJECTIVE. We sought to determine the complications associated with systemic retinoid therapy in severely affected organ transplant recipients receiving treatment before or during the course of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS. This was a collaborative retrospective study of solid organ transplant recipients treated with systemic retinoids for severe squamous cell carcinoma, with subjective analysis of complications associated with treatment. RESULTS. Complications and intolerance of systemic retinoid therapy were common, necessitating discontinuation of therapy in six of eight cases. CONCLUSION. This subset of transplant patients, severely affected by skin cancer, appeared to be less able to tolerate systemic retinoid therapy than patients in formal clinical trials. Intolerance of adverse effects in this context suggests the need for novel approaches with these challenging patients.