Calcineurin‐Inhibitor Discontinuation Could Reduce the Risk of De Novo Malignancies After Liver Transplantation for Alcohol‐Related Liver Disease

ABSTRACT Background De novo malignancies are one of the leading causes of death after liver transplantation (LT), particularly in patients transplanted for alcohol‐related liver disease (ALD). This retrospective study aimed to assess risk factors for malignancies and to evaluate the impact of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) discontinuation. Methods From 1990 to 2015, all patients transplanted for ALD were included. Results A total of 493 patients were included, 77.9% were male and the median age at LT was 54 years. After LT, 278 de novo malignancies were diagnosed in 214 patients (43.4%). The cumulative incidence of de novo malignancies was 16.3% at 5 years, 34.4% at 10 years, and 49.8% at 15 years. In multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors were male gender (HR = 1.6), and active or weaned smoking (HR = 2.0). Discontinuation of CNI was a protective factor (HR = 0.6). Survival after diagnosis of de novo malignancy was 42.7% at 5 years and 27.5% at 10 years. Conclusion Our results confirm the major incidence of de novo malignancies after LT for ALD, as well as the important role of non‐modifiable risk factors such as smoking and gender. CNI discontinuation is a protective factor, and the only adaptable, and could be proposed in smoker male patients transplanted for ALD.