JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee

Malignancy

Obligatory

Must not donate.

Discretionary

a) If this was a basal cell carcinoma (rodent ulcer) and treatment is completed and all wounds are healed, accept. If any systemic medical treatment was required, refer to designated clinical support officer.


b) If the potential donor has a non haematological (non-clonal) premalignant condition (e.g. polyposis coli, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia PIN or Barrett's oesophagus) that is being regularly monitored, or has had a similar condition cured and has been discharged from follow-up, accept.
 

c) If the potential donor has been cured of a carcinoma in situ (CIS) and discharged from follow-up, accept. Donors who have been returned to routine screening following treatment for cervical CIS can be accepted.  

Examples of CIS include cervical or vulval CIS, ductal CIS of the breast (DCIS) and Bowen’s disease. 


d) If the potential donor has had a diagnosis of melanoma in situ (including Lentigo Maligna), refer to Designated Clinical Support Officer to confirm they have not had an invasive melanoma (eg Lentigo Maligna Melanoma).


e) Potential donors with a high risk of cancer due to family history or following genetic tests, even if had or having prophylactic surgery or on prophylactic medication (e.g. Tamoxifen), or on routine follow up, accept.

See if Relevant

Basal Cell Carcinoma
Cervical Carcinoma in Situ
Surgery
Transfusion

Additional Information

Many malignancies spread through the blood stream and by invading surrounding tissues. Viruses that can be spread by blood and tissue donation can also cause some malignancies. For these reasons it is considered safer not to accept blood from people who have had a malignancy. 


Basal cell carcinoma (rodent ulcer) does not spread through the blood, therefore people who have had successful treatment may donate.


The term carcinoma in situ (CIS) refers to a group of abnormal cells which have not invaded deeper tissue or spread to another part of the body. Donors who have been cured and discharged from follow up may donate. For cervical CIS, donors can be accepted if treatment is complete and any follow up smear, if performed, did not show abnormal cells. Regular screening smears are not defined as follow up.


Premalignant conditions are very common, particularly in older donors. Regular monitoring should prevent donors with invasive malignancy from being accepted. However donors with a haematological clonal pre-malignant condition should not be accepted for tissue donation.
 

Melanoma in situ which has been cured by excision is not associated with a risk of metastasis. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of melanoma in situ (ie Breslow thickness of 0 and no regression) do not require ongoing follow up beyond the initial post-operative appointment.


Lentigo Maligna is a form of melanoma in situ found on the head and neck. It should be distinguished from Lentigo Maligna Melanoma which is a true malignant melanoma.

Reason for Change

Advice has been added for basal cell carcinoma treated systemically.

Update Information

This is a requirement of the EU Tissue & Cells Directive.

This entry was last updated in
TDSG-CB Edition 203, Release 31.