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American Journal of Transplantation: Volume 21, Number 2, February 2021
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/ajt.16477
Subject(s) - medicine , transplantation , virology
On the cover: A history of malignancy has always posed a relative contraindication for transplantation. However, with major advances that have dramatically improved oncologic outcomes, a reconsideration of both if and when transplantation should be undertaken is appropriate. In back‐to‐back articles ( pages 460 and 475), Al‐Adra et al. present the deliberations of transplant physicians and oncological specialists during a consensus conference held in September 2019. The meeting reviewed contemporary approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of common cancers, including hematological malignancies, with an eye toward prognosis and recurrence rates. In toto, the recommendations liberalize access to transplantation. However, Hart and Engels ( page 447) remind the community in their editorial that systematic and reliable data in transplant recipients remain scarce. Their nuanced and provocative observations related to the role of immunological responses in cancer control lead them to raise a cautionary flag. Finally, the unique challenges posed by transplant recipients is eloquently illustrated by the case series described by Krishnamoorthy et al. ( page 809) of refractory posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder treated with chimeric antigen receptor T cells. The combination of a lack of efficacy and severe complications led to withdrawal of care followed by death for all 3 patients who received the therapy. Cover design by Megan Llewellyn, Duke University Section of Surgical Disciplines .