Non-AIDS-defining cancers

Abstract

As the AIDS epidemic advances, the spectrum of malignancies encountered is expanding. Several non-AIDS-defining cancers are seen in increased incidence in HIV-infected patients. These include basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the anus, Hodgkin's disease, seminoma, and pediatric leiomyosarcoma. There appears to be an emerging role for various concurrent viral infections in the HIV-infected host that are likely implicated in the pathogenesis of AIDS-related neoplasms. It will be important to track the epidemiologic and biologic features of non-AIDS cancers in HIV-infected patients. It is likely that further clues about malignant transformation and oncogenesis unraveled in this setting will have broader clinical implications.