Non-AIDS-defining cancer in HIV-infected people

The availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy has changed the natural history of HIV disease, with a decrease in the risk of life-threatening opportunistic infections, prolonged survival, and a concurrent increase in the incidence of cancer diagnoses. In addition to AIDS-defining cancers, a variety of non AIDS-defining,cancers are being reported with increasing frequency. Non AIDS-defining cancers with increased incidence in HIV-infected adults include anal cancer, Hodgkin's disease, head and neck cancer, testicular cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer of the skin, and melanoma. These tumors appear to have a more aggressive clinical course in this setting. The possible mechanisms for the increased incidence and altered clinical course of these malignancies in HIV-infected people remain unclear.