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De Novo Malignancies after Liver Transplantation: A Multicenter Cohort Study of Incidence, Timing, and Outcomes*
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Abstract
Background/Aims: De novo malignancies are an important long-term complication following liver transplantation (LT), driven by
chronic immunosuppression and extended post-transplant survival. Understanding patterns by tumor type, timing, and patient characteristics is essential for optimized surveillance. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and temporal trends of de novo
neoplasms in LT recipients.
Materials and Methods: A total of 6943 adult LT recipients from 16 Turkish centers were evaluated between 1999 and 2023). Two hundred eight patients with 220 histologically confirmed de novo malignancies (excluding hepatocellular carcinoma) were included. Patients
who died within 30 days or developed cancer within 90 days post-LT were excluded. Incidence and mortality rates were assessed across
post-transplant intervals.
Results: Non-skin solid (53.2%), dermatologic (28.6%), and hematologic (18.2%) cancers were predominant. Most malignancies (76.8%)
occurred within 10 years post-LT. Early-onset (<10 years) malignancies were more common in living donor recipients (62.7%, P = .001)
and associated with higher mortality (39.6% vs. 11.8%, P < .001). Recipients ≤60 years exhibited a higher incidence of hematologic
cancers (23.9% vs. 12.6%, P = .03) and increased mortality (39.4% vs. 27.0%, P = .05). In subgroup analysis, tacrolimus use was strongly
associated with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (P = .004). Peak incidence occurred 2-10 years post-LT (≈13-14 per 1000 recipients), with non-skin solid tumors being the most frequent.
Conclusion: De novo malignancies remain a significant long-term risk after LT, with outcomes influenced by tumor type, age, immunosuppression, and timing of onset. Risk-adapted surveillance and tailored oncologic management, particularly dermatologic screening
in tacrolimus-treated patients and enhanced surveillance during the 2-10 year post-transplant period are recommended to improve
long-term survival.
Cite this article as: Danış N, Döngelli H, Ünek T, et al. De novo malignancies after liver transplantation: A multicenter cohort study
of incidence, timing, and outcomes. Turk J Gastroenterol. Published online February 20, 2026. doi:10.5152/tjg.2026.25748.