Spectrum of Cancer Risk Late After AIDS Onset in the United States

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Abstract
Persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have an increased risk of cancer.1,2 Advanced HIV infection is characterized by profound immunosuppression (ie, AIDS), a risk factor for a number of malignancies. Three cancers are AIDS defining: Kaposi sarcoma (KS), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and cervical cancer.3 These cancers are caused by oncogenic viruses, specifically, KS-associated herpesvirus for KS, Epstein-Barr virus for the major AIDS-defining NHL subtypes (diffuse large B-cell NHL and central nervous system [CNS] NHL), and human papillomavirus (HPV) for cervical cancer.4-6 Those infected with HIV also have an elevated risk for other virus-related cancers (eg, anal cancer related to HPV, liver cancer related to hepatitis B and C viruses).5-7 In addition, HIV-infected people have a higher prevalence of lifestyle-associated risk factors for cancer, including smoking and alcohol abuse.8,9