Radical cystectomy and orthotopic urinary reconstruction in patients with bladder cancer after renal transplantation: clinical outcomes and description of technique.

Objectives: Radical cystectomy (RC) with pelvic lymph node dissection and urinary diversion is the standard treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. In the setting of prior renal transplantation, surgical treatment remains the mainstay but is technically challenging. We report our patient outcomes in this unique population with a description of the technique.

Management of bladder cancer after renal transplantation.

Objective: To review our experience managing bladder cancer (BCa) in patients who have had renal transplantation. Optimal oncologic treatment can be challenging due to the immunosuppressed state and higher comorbidity.

Methods: From January 2000 to August 2011, we identified 17 patients with a history of renal transplantation who were treated for BCa.

Immunological unresponsiveness in chimeric miniature swine following MHC-mismatched spleen transplantation.

Background: In rodents, spleen allotransplantation (SpTx) induces tolerance. We investigated the induction of chimerism and donor-specific unresponsiveness following pig SpTx.

Methods: Thirteen pigs underwent splenectomy (day 0); all received a blood transfusion.

Heart transplantation in baboons using alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout pigs as donors: initial experience.

Hearts from alpha1,3-galactosyltransferase knockout pigs (GalT-KO, n = 8) were transplanted heterotopically into baboons using an anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody-based regimen. The elimination of the galactose-alpha1,3-galactose epitope prevented hyperacute rejection and extended survival of pig hearts in baboons for 2-6 months (median, 78 d); the predominant lesion associated with graft failure was a thrombotic microangiopathy, with resulting ischemic injury. There were no infectious complications directly related to the immunosuppressive regimen.

Absence of humoral and cellular alloreactivity in baboons sensitized to pig antigens.

to study whether sensitization to pig antigens results in humoral and/or cellular sensitization to alloantigens in baboons, and thus increases the risks of organ allotransplantation after xenotransplantation. Serum from baboons that were naive (n = 4), sensitized to Gal alpha 1,3Gal (Gal) antigens (n = 2), or sensitized to Gal + non-Gal pig antigens (n = 2) were tested by flow cytometry for the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies that bind to pig or baboon peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Two allosensitized baboons were used as positive controls.