Is it possible to remove cancer through organ transplants?

[shail p]

For example, if the cancer hasn't spread too much in the liver to remove it and add a new one?

[midnightmoon62]

If the cancer is leukemia, a bone marrow/stem cell transplant is the best chance for a cure. Some would argue that it is not a real organ transplant, I disagree. It is THE organ transplant. You are replacing your entire immune system along with getting rid of the cancer. (Sort of, you technically have to be in remission for most docs to do the transplant) They go through immunosupression just the same as other transplants. But instead of a surgery have to go through major high dose chemo and full body radiation in order to rid the body of the old bone marrow, or 'organ'.

Interesting to think about...

[Go Gators]

Organ transplants are rarely used for cancer. One theory is the likelihood of cancer spread. With any cancer, it is possibly that cancer cells have broken away from the tumor and traveled to other parts of the body. Even if you remove the organs containing the primary cancer, the cells that have spread would continue to grow. Added to the transplant patients here to take drugs to damp down the immune system so they reject the new transplanted organ. If you have cancer, your immune system may be helping to fight it's so suppressing it is not a good ideas!
The liver transplant is the only type of transplant that can be used to cheat cancer.

[sea_wolfman]

If you're luck enough to find a cancer that is isolated in one organ, you might be able to do the transplant. Chances are there are local lymph nodes involved which will spread the cancer. Transplants require immune suppression medicines that put those people at risk for cancer. So instead we try to remove the parts that are cancerous. Part of a liver can be taken out. A cancerous kidney can be removed. Same with a bladder. Brain is out of the question. Partial lungs are removed. You see if you need a full liver transplant. once you have the transplant and start the meds you have a great chance to get cancer within 5 years.