As combined antiretroviral therapy has allowed patients infected with HIV to survive longer due to improved immunity, increasing incidences of non-AIDS associated malignancies as well as chronic comorbidities are reported. One of the more commonly reported non-AIDS associated cancers is Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) [1]. We report our experience of HL among HIV-infected and uninfected patients.
In 2010, a new entity, characterized by the classical signs and symptoms of Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus-associated multicentric Castleman's disease (KSHV-MCD) in the absence of pathologic evidence of MCD, was described in individuals living with HIV. This syndrome was named KSHV inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS). It carries mortality rates of up to 60%. To date, there are no standard therapies. Treatment regimens studied in clinical trials for MCD disease are used in cases of KICS.
Background
Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) defining malignancies. Since highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has improved survival for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, we evaluated lung cancer outcomes in the HAART era.
Methods
HIV-positive patients diagnosed with lung cancer in our institution during the HAART era (1995-2008) were analyzed. Patient charts were reviewed for clinical and laboratory data. CD4 count at diagnosis was treated as a continuous variable and subcategorized into distinct variables with 3 cut-off points (50, 200, & 500 μl). Pearson’s correlation coefficients were estimated for each covariate studied. Survival was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results
Out of 80 patients, 73 had non-small cell lung cancer. Baseline characteristics were: median age-52 yrs; male-80%; African American-84%; injection drug use-25%; smokers-100%; and prior exposure to antiretroviral agents-55%. Mean CD4 count and viral load were 304 μL and 82,420 copies/ml, respectively at cancer diagnosis. The latency between diagnosis of HIV and lung cancer was significantly shorter in women (4.1 yrs vs. 7.7 yrs, P=0.02) and 71% of the patients received anti-cancer therapy. The 1- and 3-year survival rates were 31% and 4% overall. Grade 3/4 toxicities occurred in 60% with chemo-radiation vs. 36% with chemotherapy. Cancer-related survival was better for patients with CD4 count >200 (P=0.0298) and >500 (P=0.0076).
Conclusions
The latency from diagnosis of HIV to lung cancer was significantly shorter for women. Although outcomes for lung cancer patients with HIV remain poor, high CD4 count is associated with an improved lung cancer-related survival.
Purpose: Anal cancer affects a disproportionate percentage of persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We analyzed a cohort of patients with HIV and anal cancer who received modern radiation therapy (RT) and concurrent chemotherapy to assess whether certain factors are associated with poor oncologic outcomes. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 75 consecutive patients with HIV infection and anal cancer who received definitive chemotherapy and RT from 2008 to 2018 at a single academic institution. Local recurrence, overall survival, changes in CD4 counts, and toxicities were investigated. Results: Most patients were male (92%) with large representation from Black patients (77%). The median pretreatment CD4 count was 280 cells/mm3, which was persistently lower at 6 and 12 months’ posttreatment, 87 cells/mm3 and 182 cells/mm3, respectively (P <.001). Most (92%) patients received intensity modulated RT; median dose was 54 Gy (Range, 46.8-59.4 Gy). At a median follow-up 5.4 years (Range, 4.37-6.21 years), 20 (27%) patients had disease recurrence and 10 (13%) had isolated local failures. Nine patients died due to progressive disease. In multivariable analysis, clinically node negative involvement was significantly associated with better overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.16-1.00, P =.049). Acute grade 2 and 3 skin toxicities were common, at 83% and 19%, respectively. Acute grade 2 and 3 gastrointestinal toxicities were 9% and 3%, respectively. Acute grade 3 hematologic toxicity was 20%, and one grade 5 toxicity was reported. Several late grade 3 toxicities persisted: gastrointestinal (24%), skin (17%), and hematologic (6%). Two late grade 5 toxicities were noted. Conclusions: Most patients with HIV and anal cancer did not experience local recurrence; however, acute and late toxicities were common. CD4 counts at 6 and 12 months’ posttreatment remained lower than pretreatment CD4 counts. Further attention to treatment of the HIV-infected population is needed.