innovative education
Frontiers in Transplant Oncology
The first and only book on Transplant Oncology—“Transplant Oncology: A Frontier in Multidisciplinary Cancer Care”—was recently published by Elsevier. Edited by Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, B Pharm, Section Chief of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center, and Medical Director of the Cockrell Center for Advanced Therapeutics Phase I program, the book delves into how the innovative approach of transplant oncology is redefining treatment approaches for malignancies treated by transplantation.
A few types of cancer can be currently treated by transplantation—a concept unheard of a few decades ago. These include cancers of the liver and bile duct and other cancers that metastasize the liver (colon and neuroendocrine cancer).
The term “transplant oncology” was first coined in 2015. Transplant oncology is essentially an emerging discipline that integrates the expertise of cancer and transplant centers. Since the outset of trials, transplant oncology has developed into a modality with curative potential for several types of cancer. Vincenzo Mazzaferro, MD, PhD, Professor of Surgery in the Department of Oncology at the University of Milan and Director of the Gastro-Intestinal Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit at the National Cancer Institute of Milan, Italy, is widely considered to be the godfather of transplant oncology. Mazzaferro first started treating cancer by transplantation in 1996 and is the author of the first chapter as well as the preamble of this book, which includes 26 chapters written by pioneers in the field from around the world.
The chapters are divided into six sections:
- Transplant Oncology: An Evolving Field in Cancer Care
- Transplantations for Oncological Indications
- Transplant Oncology and Immunotherapy
- Transplant Oncology and Precision Medicine
- Solid Organ Transplant and Cancer Considerations
- Surgical Aspects of Transplant Oncology
The book discusses several important concepts, such as the applications of circular tumor DNA, how immunotherapy can be used in special patient populations, the myriad applications of surgery and transplant medicine to improve patient outcomes, recent developments and the success of clinical trials.
The first foreword of the book is written by Marc Boom, MD, President and CEO of Houston Methodist. “Transplant Oncology: A Frontier in Multidisciplinary Cancer Care can be used as a reference book, but it is so much more than that,” commented Boom. “It speaks to the incredible progress so many of our contemporaries have made in the fight against cancer and is also a call to action for many of us to keep thinking ahead and moving forward in our daily work to improve our patients’ lives.”.
The landscape for treating cancer has changed significantly. Transplant oncology offers several advantages over other therapeutic strategies, such as chemotherapy. Moreover, immunotherapy is now used routinely and generously to treat every type of cancer, and it is improving outcomes. Importantly, immunotherapy is currently the standard of care for two types of cancer—liver cancer and cholangiocarcinoma.
The book’s second forward, features James P. Allison, PhD, Nobel laureate, 2018, Regental Professor and Chair of the Department of Immunology, the Olga Keith Wiess Distinguished University Chair for Cancer Research, Director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Research, Executive Director of the Immunotherapy Platform, and Director of the James P. Allison Institute at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, explained, “Transplant oncology and the integration of oncology with organ transplantation to enhance cancer treatment is a comprehensive approach to finding cancer cures. Of particular interest is the interplay between cancer and transplant immunology, which can reveal new insights into the tumor-immune response both in the context of immunosuppression for organ transplantation and immune checkpoint therapy for cancer. This comprehensive book offers a history of the field of liver transplantation and explores in depth the traditional notions, groundbreaking advancements, and essential principles of precision oncology."
The book ‘Transplant Oncology’ is a global book with contributions from researchers from all seven continents. This book is an excellent resource and will be referred to by oncologists, transplant surgeons, trainees, fellows and residents. This educational book will certainly change the field by increasing and sharing the knowledge of what has already been accomplished which will open doors and expand the practice of transplant oncology globally with future collaborations.
Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, B Pharm
Section Chief of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at the Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center and Medical Director of the Cockrell Center for Advanced Therapeutics Phase I program at Houston Methodist
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Immunotherapy is one of the core subjects discussed in the book. One important question noted is whether immunotherapy can be used to treat patients at higher risk of secondary or de novo cancer. These are patients who receive immunosuppressive drug therapies post-transplantation. Another important question posed is if immunotherapy can be used to shrink tumor size while the patient is waiting for the donor organs. The supply of acceptable donor organs is not adequate to meet the demands of transplantation which leads to a large number of deaths annually. Typical wait times for donor organs can range from days to years.
While collaborating with pioneers in the field, Abdelrahim has co-authored several research articles and continues to push the envelope in transplant oncology “This book increases our visibility as an institution. Our state-of-the-art cancer center and highly ranked transplant center together have given birth to this book,” said Abdelrahim. “This is an exciting time since now we can treat stage IV colon cancer by transplantation. This is unique and new.
The field of transplant oncology is expanding with active collaborations among leading researchers from around the world. Abdelrahim served as chair of the first transplant oncology conference in the U.S., hosted by Houston Methodist, in 2022. —Transplant Oncology, a part of the journal Cancers) was recently launched, for which Abdelrahim is the editor-in-chief.
“This is a global book with contributions from researchers from all seven continents and serves excellent resource and will be referred to by oncologists, transplant surgeons, trainees, fellows, and residents,” emphasized Abdelrahim. ”It will certainly change the field by sharing and increasing the knowledge of what has already been accomplished, which will open doors and expand the practice of transplant oncology globally for future collaborations.”
Abanti Chattopadhyay, PhD
March 2025
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