The lung of a smoker, deceased of a cancer

In France, a woman dies of lung cancer – a year and a half after being implanted in the lungs of a long-time smoker. A study currently published in the journal "Lung Cancer" warns about the risks badociated with organ transplantation of smokers.

Experts write that the deceased patient had typical symptoms of lung cancer induced by smoking. The short interval between organ transplantation and the appearance of early irregularities in chest radiographs indicated that the cancer had already started during the donor's life. The donor smoked a box daily for 30 years. The immunosuppressive medications that the organ recipient had to take probably contributed to the development of the cancer.

Because of the long latency period of lung cancer, the study authors recommend rethinking the lung transplant of smokers or donors who have recently quit smoking.