Purpose: Despite a uniform regional breast cancer care program, breast cancer survival differs within regions. We therefore examined breast cancer survival in relation to differences in diagnostic activity, tumor characteristics, and treatment in seven Swedish counties within a single health care region. Methods: We conducted a population-based observational study using a clinical breast cancer register in one Swedish health care region. Eligible women (n = 7,656) ages 40 to 69 years diagnosed with primary breast cancer between 1992 and 2002 were followed up until 2003. The 7-year relative survival ratio was used to estimate breast cancer survival. Excess mortality was modeled using Poisson regression to study differences in survival between counties. Results: The 7-year relative survival for breast cancer patients was significantly lower (up to 7% in absolute risk difference) in one county (county A) compared with the others. This difference existed only among women diagnosed before 1998, ages 50 to 59 years, and was strongest among stage II breast cancer patients. Adjustment for amount of diagnostic activity eliminated the survival differences among the counties.

Summary Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) have an increased cancer risk compared to the general population, but absolute risks that better reflect the clinical impact of cancer are seldom estimated. All KTRs in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, with a first transplantation between 1995 and 2011, were identified through national registries. Post‐transplantation cancer occurrence was assessed through linkage with cancer registries. We estimated standardized incidence ratios (SIR), absolute excess risks (AER), and cumulative incidence of cancer in the presence of competing risks. Overall, 12 984 KTRs developed 2215 cancers. The incidence rate of cancer overall was threefold increased (SIR 3.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.2–3.4). The AER of any cancer was 1560 cases (95% CI: 1468–1656) per 100 000 person‐years. The highest AERs were observed for nonmelanoma skin cancer (838, 95% CI: 778–901), non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (145, 95% CI: 119–174), lung cancer (126, 95% CI: 98.2–149), and kidney cancer (122, 95% CI: 98.0–149). The five‐ and ten‐year cumulative incidence of any cancer was 8.1% (95% CI: 7.6–8.6%) and 16.8% (95% CI: 16.0–17.6%), respectively. Excess cancer risks were observed among Nordic KTRs for a wide range of cancers. Overall, 1 in 6 patients developed cancer within ten years, supporting extensive post‐transplantation cancer vigilance.

Despite previously adequate cancer treatments and favorable prognoses, almost half of the patients experienced a posttransplant cancer. These observations do not justify abstaining from transplanting all patients with previous malignancies, because more than 50% of the patients survive 10 years posttransplantation. A careful oncological surveillance pretransplant as well as posttransplant is recommended.

Background Solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of developing malignancies. The objective of this prospective, observational, one-armed study was to study the feasibility to add a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor to the immunosuppressive regimen in transplanted patients with post-transplant malignancies. During the trial the need to improve identification of post-transplant malignancies and to reassure adequate oncological treatment of these patients became evident. Multidisciplinary team (MDT) evaluation of oncological and immunosuppressive treatments was implemented for all patients with malignancies after renal or combined renal and pancreas transplantation because of the trial. Material and methods At Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden, a MDT consisting of transplant surgeons, nephrologists, oncologists and dermatologists evaluated 120 renal or combined renal and pancreas-transplanted recipients diagnosed with malignancies from September 2006 to July 2012. To identify all malignancies, the population was linked to the Regional Tumor Registry (RTR). We recorded to which extent a switch to mTOR inhibitors was possible and how often the originally planned oncological managements were adjusted. All patients were followed for three years. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02241564). Results In 76 of 120 patients (63%) a switch to mTOR inhibitors was possible. Immunosuppression was interrupted in seven patients (6%), reduced in three patients (2%) and remained unchanged in 34 of 120 patients (28%). Identification of post-transplant malignancies increased significantly after linkage to RTR (p = 0.015). The initially recommended oncological treatment was adjusted in 23 of 44 patients (52%) with solid or hematological malignancies; 36 of these patients (82%) were treated according to national guidelines. Conclusion In two thirds of the patients the immunosuppressive treatment could be changed to an mTOR inhibitor with anti-tumor effects in transplanted patients with post-transplant malignancies. The use of regional tumor registers considerably improved the identification of patients with post-transplant malignancies indicating that post-transplant malignancies might be timely underreported in transplant registers.