Prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer in organ transplant patients by regular use of a sunscreen: a 24 months, prospective, case–control study

  1. C. Ulrich1,
  2. J.S. Jürgensen2,
  3. A. Degen1,
  4. M. Hackethal1,
  5. M. Ulrich1,
  6. M.J. Patel3,
  7. J. Eberle1,
  8. D. Terhorst1,
  9. W. Sterry1,
  10. E. Stockfleth1

Article first published online: 22 SEP 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2009.09453.x

Issue

British Journal of Dermatology

British Journal of Dermatology

Special Issue: Advances in the Management of UVR induced Skin Cancers.

Volume 161, Issue Supplement s3, pages 78–84, November 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Ulrich, C., Jürgensen, J.S., Degen, A., Hackethal, M., Ulrich, M., Patel, M.J., Eberle, J., Terhorst, D., Sterry, W. and Stockfleth, E. (2009), Prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer in organ transplant patients by regular use of a sunscreen: a 24 months, prospective, case–control study. British Journal of Dermatology, 161: 78–84. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2009.09453.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Center, Charité University Hospital, 10117 Berlin, Germany

  2. 2

    Department of Nephrology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany

  3. 3

    Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287-0900, U.S.A.

*Claas Ulrich. E-mail:claas.ulrich@charite.de

  1. Funding Main part of the study has been supported by a research grant of Spirig Pharma AG, CH – 4622 Egerkingen, Switzerland.

  2. Conflicts of interest C. U. has acted as a paid consultant to Almirall, Spirig, Novartis, Wyeth and has received funding for research carried out in his work. J.S.J. has received funding for research by Wyeth. M.U. has acted as a lecturer for Mavig GmbH, Almirall GmbH and Spirig GmbH. The author was awarded a research grant by MEDA Pharma GmbH in 2008. J.E. has acted as a paid consultant to Roche Diagnostics. W.S. has acted as a paid consultant to Abbott, Almirall, Janssen-Cilag, Novartis, Intendis, Schering-Plough, Serono and Wyeth. E.S.has acted as a paid consultant to Meda, Mavig, Almirall, Spirig, Heidelberg Pharma, Intendis and has received funding for research carried out in his work. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 SEP 2009
  2. Article first published online: 22 SEP 2009
  3. Accepted for publication7 August 2009

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (170K)

Keywords:

  • immunosuppression;
  • organ transplant;
  • prevention;
  • skin cancer;
  • sun screen

Summary

Background  Skin cancers represent a major challenge within the ever growing group of long time surviving organ transplant recipients (OTR) world wide. Especially UV-induced non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) like invasive squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and actinic keratoses (AK), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), outnumber every other form of cancer in organ transplant recipients. Despite encouraging reports of protective effects of broad-spectrum sunscreens in immunocompetent patients, evidence for the prevention of NMSC in immunocompromised patients is still missing.

Objectives  To assess preventive effects of regular sun-screen use on AK, SCC and BCC in chronically immunocompromised organ transplant recipients.

Methods  Hundred and twenty matched (age, sex, skin type, graft, transplant duration, previous post-transplant skin malignancies) organ transplant recipients (40 heart, 40 kidney, 40 liver grafted) were recruited for this prospective, single-center study. Both groups received equally written and oral information on sun protection measures. Sixty patients were provided with a free broad spectrum study-sunscreen (SPF > 50, high-UVA absorption) for daily application of 2 mg cm−2 to the head, neck, forearms, and hands.

Results  All 120 patients completed the 24 months study. Within this 24 month study interval 42 of the 120 patients developed 82 new AK (−102 sun screen group vs. + 82 control; P < 0·01), 8 new invasive SCC (0 vs. 8; P < 0·01) and 11 BCC (2 vs. 9; ns). In spite of equal numbers of AK at baseline, a marked difference in favor of the intent-to-treat sunscreen group was recorded after 24 months (89 vs. 273; P < 0·01, mean difference 3·07 [1·76–4·36]) and the lesion count was significantly lower as compared to the initial visit (89 vs. 191; P < 0·01, mean difference 1·7 [0·68–2·72]). With an average of 5·6 applications per week throughout the 24 months the study sunscreen was generally well tolerated. Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels as marker for vitamin D status were decreased in all patients without adequate substitution and 25(OH)D was found to be lower in the sunscreen-group as compared to the control group (mean value 53 ng mL−1 vs. 60 ng mL−1).

Interpretation  Regular use of sunscreens, as part of a consequent UV-protection strategy, may prevent the development of further AK and invasive SCC and, to a lesser degree, BCC in immune-compromised organ transplant recipients.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (170K)