Short Communication Conversion to sirolimus in kidney transplant recipients with squamous cell cancer and changes in immune phenotype

Background. Conversion to sirolimus from calcineurin inhibitor- (CNI), azathioprine- (AZA) and mycopheno-late-based regimens reduces the risk of development of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCC) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Sirolimus conversion may also be protective by permitting beneficial changes in immune phenotype. It is not known how sirolimus will affect immune phenotype in KTRs with SCC. Methods. Thirty-two KTRs with SCC were enrolled into this single-blinded randomized study and 13 KTRs ran-domized to sirolimus (4–10 ng/mL) and prednisolone 5 mg/day. Results. Six-month post conversion to sirolimus FOXP3+ CD127lowCD25highCD69−, the number of T cells (putativ