Cerebral glial tumors and human immunodeficiency virus- 1 infection: More than a coincidental association

Abstract

Background. The authors describe the clinical and morphologic patterns in four patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) who developed intracranial glial tumors. Methods. This retrospective study reports 70 patients at various stages of human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1) infection who underwent stereotactic brain biopsy for an intracerebral space‐occupying lesion. Results. Of these patients, four had glial tumors: one astroblastoma, two astrocytomas, and one glioblastoma. Glial tumors probably arise from a complex interplay of factors; possibilities include the activation of a dominant oncogene or viral inactivation of a tumor suppressor gene by a viral promoter (like the tat protein), impairment of immune defenses (which facilitates the growth of astrocytomas in acute lymphoblastic leukemia), production fo cellular growth factors, cytokines, possible infection of glial cells by HIV, and the potentiation of a coinfectious agent. Conclusions. These cases illustrate that glial tumors should be considered in the differential diagnosis of brain masses in HIV‐1 infection, especially because specific treatment for these tumors is available. Moreover, the occurrence of glial tumors in AIDS patients is not only an important event from a clinical point of view, but may also have implications for the pathogenesis of tumors in AIDS. Cancer 1994; 74: 686‐92.

miRNAs in the Biology of Cancers and Viral Infections

“…Indeed, prominent suppression in the abundance of mature miRNAs is seen in HIV-1 infected cells [49]. Given that reduction in selected miRNA-expression is correlated with carcinogenesis (see above) significant reduction in the levels of many miRNAs by virus may explain a subset of the increased neoplasia observed for HIV-1 infected individuals [50][51][52], although most HIV-associated neoplasms are likely accounted by reduced immuno-surveillance.…”

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 Tat/Co-activator Acetyltransferase Interactions Inhibit p53Lys-320Acetylation and p53-responsive Transcription

“…Although the most frequent malignancies observed in AIDS patients are non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, central nervous system non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, and Kaposi's sarcomas, compartmentalization of human immunodeficiency virus, type-1 (HIV-1) 1 in the central nervous system might be associated with the recent increase of rare intracranial tumors, such as glioblastomas, anaplastic astrocytomas, and subependymomas (1)(2)(3). The viral trans-activator, Tat, can be endocytosed by surrounding uninfected cells and has been demonstrated to inhibit the G 1 /S arrest-inducing functions of p53, providing a candidate mechanism through which HIV-1 might contribute to malignant transformation in the central nervous system (4 -7).…”

Application of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the differentiation of high-grade brain neoplasm and inflammatory brain lesions

“…Another previously described situation is the association of glial tumors in hIv seropositive individuals [16][17][18][19] . This association has become more common due to recently developed drugs and the efficacy of treatment, thereby increasing survival of hIv seropositive patients.…”