Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 Feb;43(1):173-188.
doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2015.09.011. Epub 2015 Sep 8.

Cancer prevention in HIV-infected populations

Priscila H Goncalves  1 , Jairo M Montezuma-Rusca  2 , Robert Yarchoan  1 , Thomas S Uldrick  3
Affiliations
Review

Cancer prevention in HIV-infected populations

Priscila H Goncalves et al. Semin Oncol. 2016 Feb.

Abstract

People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are living longer since the advent of effective combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). While cART substantially decreases the risk of developing some cancers, HIV-infected individuals remain at high risk for Kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma, and several solid tumors. Currently HIV-infected patients represent an aging group, and malignancies have become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Tailored cancer-prevention strategies are needed for this population. In this review we describe the etiologic agents and pathogenesis of common malignancies in the setting of HIV, as well as current evidence for cancer prevention strategies and screening programs.

Keywords: AIDS-related lymphoma; HIV; HPV vaccines; Kaposi sarcoma; Neoplasms.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial disclosures or conflict of interests

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. HIV lifecycle and steps targeted by antiretroviral therapy
Current agents target human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cell surface interactions that inhibit HIV – entry, or target HIV-encoded enzymes that are required for reverse transcription, integration, or protease activity. CD4- cluster of differentiation 4; CXCR4- chemokine receptor type 4; chemokine receptor type 5
Figure 2
Figure 2. Gaps in implementation of combination antiretroviral therapy
Populations infected with HIV are heterogeneous in terms of time with uncontrolled HIV viremia, extent of immune depletion, and time on antiretroviral therapy (cART). Globally, percent of HIV-infected patients on cART varies between countries and is increasing over time. Presented data is based on 2011 United States estimates. Further cancer prevention through increased cART coverage is likely achievable. Considerations regarding effects of timing of initiation of cART on cancer risk factors are noted.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Shiels MS, Pfeiffer RM, Gail MH, et al. Cancer burden in the HIV-infected population in the United States. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011 May 4;103(9):753–762. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Silverberg MJ, Abrams DI. AIDS-defining and non-AIDS-defining malignancies: cancer occurrence in the antiretroviral therapy era. Curr Opin Oncol. 2007 Sep;19(5):446–451. - PubMed
    1. Silverberg MJ, Leyden W, Warton EM, Quesenberry CP, Jr, Engels EA, Asgari MM. HIV infection status, immunodeficiency, and the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013 Mar 6;105(5):350–360. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bonnet F, Burty C, Lewden C, et al. Changes in cancer mortality among HIV-infected patients: the Mortalite 2005 Survey. Clin Infect Dis. 2009 Mar 1;48(5):633–639. - PubMed
    1. When To Start C. Sterne JA, May M, et al. Timing of initiation of antiretroviral therapy in AIDS-free HIV-1-infected patients: a collaborative analysis of 18 HIV cohort studies. Lancet. 2009 Apr 18;373(9672):1352–1363. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms