Stem cells raise cancer risk

Vancouver, British Columbia - Stem cell transplants for a primary malignancy increase the 10-year risk of developing a second solid tumor, including skin cancers, researchers report.

The risk is greater for recipients of stem cells from a female donor, according to http://Medpagetoday.com/.

Among 926 consecutive hematopoietic allograft patients seen at a single institution over 18 years, 240 had a primary cancer recurrence and 28 developed second solid malignancies. Twelve of the second tumors were of the skin, researchers said.