SynthesisCancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)2026
Azathioprine Increases the Risk of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Among Organ Transplant Recipients; an Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Evolving Paradigms in Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease: From Global Immunosuppression to Precision Targeted and Cell-Based Therapies.Stem cell reviews and reports · 2026Pooled it
- Azathioprine Increases the Risk of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Among Organ Transplant Recipients; an Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2026Pooled it
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAzathioprine (AZA) is a purine antimetabolite immunosuppressant that prevents the body from rejecting transplanted organs and is used in organ transplant recipients (OTRs). This study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to determine whether AZA usage has an increased risk of skin cancer in OTRs.
methodsTo explore the association between AZA usage and skin cancer through observational studies we conducted a systematic search across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. A random effects model, subgroup analysis, and heterogeneity assessment were used for meta-analysis. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa scale checklist.
resultsA total of 27 studies with 21 405 patients were included to the quantitative analysis. the overall summary estimate for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) risk in relation to AZA treatment according Odds ratio (OR) estimates, relative risk (RR) estimates and hazard ratio (HR) estimates were 1.83 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22, 2.75), 2.09 (CI: 1.41, 3.10), and 1.12 (CI: 0.93, 1.34), respectively. There was a substantial heterogeneity between studies in all types of OR estimates (I2 = 80.75%), RR estimates (I2 = 65.58%) and HR estimates (I2 = 54.63%). In the subgroup analysis, there was a significant increase in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) risk in all three estimate effects while regarding basal cell carcinoma (BCC) none of them were significant.
conclusionOur findings indicate that OTRs treated with AZA are at an increased risk for SCC and NMSC. Therefore, it is recommended to prioritize monitoring for skin cancer in OTRs treated with AZA.
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