Lung Cancer Arising in a Lung Transplant Recipient

Situations:

(1) incidental lung cancer found in resected lung

(2) lung cancer developing in residual lung tissue (if a single lobe transplanted)

(3) lung cancer arising in the donor's lung

Risk factors:

(1) cigarette smoking

(2) immunosuppression associated with the transplant

(3) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Factors associated with a better outcome:

(1) Stage 1 disease

(2) ability to completely resect the tumor

(3) good lung function

(4) ability to reduce immunosuppression

Survival is poor if the patient has high stage disease and if the tumor cannot be completely resected.