Malignant neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract after blood or marrow transplant

A retrospective cohort study investigated the risk of subsequent malignant neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract (GI SMNs) in survivors of blood or marrow transplant (BMT) during 62 479 person-years of follow-up. The standardized incidence ratios for developing specific SMNs ranged from 2.1 (p<0.001) for colorectal cancer tot 7.8 (p<0.001) for esophageal cancer. Compared with autologous BMT recipients, allogeneic BMT recipients with chronic graft-vs-host disease were at increased risk for esophageal cancer (SHR 9.9; 95% CI 3.2-30.5). The authors conclude that the findings of this cohort study are relevant for healthcare professionals who care for the growing number of BMT survivors.