HIV/AIDS and Colorectal Cancer: A Review in the Era of Antiretrovirals

Abstract

Since the discovery of HIV/AIDS and the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, there have been many observations regarding the causes of HIV/AIDS deaths, opportunistic infections, and coexisting diseases such as non-AIDS-defining malignancies. The bulk of the literature worldwide has been epidemiologic and has involved cross-linkage of both HIV/AIDS and cancer registries. Prior retrospective studies have also utilized death certificates. Initial large-scale studies have not identified an increased risk of colon cancer in the HIV/AIDS population, and scrutiny of the literature has elucidated major limitations, most notably the lack of screening data. Only recently have there been studies addressing the rate of colon cancer screening in the HIV/AIDS population. There have also been reports suggesting an elevated risk and earlier age of onset of colonic neoplasia in the HIV/AIDS population. This review summarizes literature from the last two decades regarding HIV/AIDS and colorectal cancer and endeavors to stimulate interest in further investigation of a possible association.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS; colorectal cancer.