The historical link between solid-organ transplantation, immunosuppression, and skin cancer.

BACKGROUND

Skin cancers are more common in organ transplant recipients than in the general population.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was establish the historical link between organ transplantation, immunosuppression, and the development of skin cancer.

METHODS

The pertinent literature in cutaneous oncology and transplantation is reviewed.

RESULTS

There is a historical link between organ transplants, immunosuppression, and the subsequent development of skin cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

Organ transplant recipients have more skin cancer than those in the general population and this is temporally related to their degree of immunosuppression.