AIDS and associated malignancies

Abstract

AIDS associated malignancies (ARL) is a major complication associated with AIDS patients upon immunosuppression. Chronically immunocompromised patients have a markedly increased risk of developing lymphoproliferative disease. In the era of potent antiretrovirals therapy (ARV), the malignant complications due to HIV-1 infection have decreased in developed nations where ARV is administered, but still poses a major problem in developing countries where HIV-1 incidence is high and ARV is still not yet widely available. Even in ARV treated individuals there is a concern that the prolonged survival of many HIV-1 carriers is likely to eventually result in an increased number of malignancies diagnosed. Malignancies that were found to have high incidence in HIV-infected individuals are Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The incidence of NHL has increased nearly 200 fold in HIV-positive patients, and accounts for a greater percentage of AIDS defining illness in the US and Europe since the advent of HAART therapy. These AIDS related lymphomas are distinct from their counterparts seen in HIV-1 seronegative patients. For example nearly half of all cases of ARL are associated with the presence of a gamma herpesvirus, Epstein Barr virus (EBV) or human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8)/ Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV). The pathogenesis of ARLs is complex. B-cell proliferation driven by chronic antigenemia resulting in the induction of polyclonal and ultimately monoclonal lymphoproliferation may occur in the setting of severe immunosuppression.

mTOR as a multifunctional therapeutic target in HIV infection

“…The occurrence of HIV-associated malignancies represents a major complication for immunocompromised HIV-infected individuals [43]. Indeed, it has been shown that there is an association between HIV and cancer, particularly anal cancer, Kaposi sarcoma (KS), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), primary brain lymphoma and Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) [44].…”

“…ARLs are often associated to herpes virus-g, EBV or HHV-8 [43]. It is believed that B-cell proliferation stimulated by chronic antigenaemia can result in polyclonal and eventually monoclonal lymphoproliferation [43].…”

“…ARLs are often associated to herpes virus-g, EBV or HHV-8 [43]. It is believed that B-cell proliferation stimulated by chronic antigenaemia can result in polyclonal and eventually monoclonal lymphoproliferation [43]. Standard treatment for HIV lymphomas includes immune reconstitution using HAART, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, radioimmunotherapy, stem cell transplantation, cytokine therapy and vaccination.…”

The Viral Etiology of AIDS‐Associated Malignancies

“…Since the first report of AIDS over 25 years ago, it was noted that there is a close association between HIV infection and the development of a number of cancers (Levine, 2006;Noy, 2006;Pantanowitz et al, 2006;Wood and Harrington, 2005). They include KS, Hodgkin's and high-grade B-cell NHL, anal, and invasive cervical carcinomas.…”

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Among People Living with HIV/AIDS

“…Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common malignancies in HIV-infected patients (Wood & Harrington Jr, 2005). Human Herpes Virus-8 has been found to be necessary but not sufficient for its development because other factors such as immunosuppression are also required Laskaris, 2000;Whitby et al, 1995;Wood & Harrington Jr, 2005).…”