Understanding and Managing Antineoplastic and Antiretroviral Therapy

Abstract

The use of combination antiretroviral therapy in patients with malignancies is associated with improved HIV and cancer-related outcomes. Combining antiretroviral and antineoplastic therapy is often complicated by significant drug-drug interactions, drug-disease state monitoring interactions and overlapping toxicities. Definitive pharmacokinetic studies evaluating drug interactions between antineoplastics and antiretrovirals are uncommon and clinical judgment must often be used to determine the potential for significant interactions. Adjusting antiretroviral therapy in response to significant drug interactions or overlapping toxicities is often more feasible than modifying antineoplastic protocols.