Transmission of cancer with cadaveric donor organs

A case is presented in which each of the recipients of a pair of cadaveric kidneys developed metastatic carcinoma. One of the recipients died, and the other demonstrated involution of metastatic deposits after graft nephrectomy and withdrawal of immunosuppression. By the use of polymerase chain reaction of minisatellite regions of donor and recipient DNA, the donor origin of the tumor was conclusively demonstrated. Although a relatively uncommon complication of cadaveric renal transplantation, the transmission of cancer with cadaveric organs may become more frequent as older donors are accepted for organ donation.