Transmission and Non-transmission of Melanoma From Deceased Solid Organ Donors to Transplant Recipients: Risks and Missed Opportunities

Abstract

Background. Biovigilance concerns are in tension with the need to increase organ donation. Cancer transmission risk from donor to recipient may be overestimated, as non-transmission events are rarely reported. We sought to estimate melanoma transmission risk in deceased organ donation and identify missed opportunities for donation in an Australian cohort with high melanoma prevalence.

Methods. We used a population-based approach and linked deceased organ donors, transplant recipients, and potential donors forgone, 2010–2018, with the Central Cancer Registry (CCR), 1976–2018. We identified melanomas using ICD-O-3 classification, assessed the probability of transmission, and compared suspected melanoma history in potential donors forgone with melanoma notifications in the CCR.

Results. There were 9 of 993 donors with melanoma in CCR; 4 in situ low-risk and 5 invasive high-to-unacceptable risk. Four were unrecognized before donation. Of 16 transplant recipients at risk, we found 0 of 14 transmission events (2 recipients had insufficient follow-up). Of 35 of 3588 potential donors forgone for melanoma risk alone, 17 were otherwise suitable for donation; 6 of 35 had no melanoma in CCR, 2 of 35 had in situ melanomas and 9 of 35 had thin invasive melanomas (localized, ≤0.8 mm thickness).

Conclusions. Our findings contribute to current evidence that suggests donors with melanomas of low metastatic potential may provide an opportunity to safely increase organ donation and so access to transplantation.