Increased incidence of cancer among homosexual men, New York City and San Francisco, 1978-1990.
Several studies have shown that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is associated with an increase in the incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among homosexual men. The role of HIV-1 in increasing the incidence of other malignancies is more controversial. The incidence of non-Kaposi's sarcoma cancer was examined from 1978 to 1990 among 15,565 homosexual men who participated in studies of hepatitis B virus infection in the late 1970s in New York City, New York, and San Francisco, California. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for all cancers was 1.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-1.8). Excesses were observed for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR = 12.7; 95% CI 11.0-14.6). Hodgkin's disease (SIR = 2.5; 95% CI 1.5-3.9), and anal cancer (SIR = 24.2 95% CI 13.5-39.9). As seen with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer known to be associated with HIV-1. Hodgkin's disease incidence was significantly higher in more recent years compared with earlier years. No cases of Hodgkin's disease were found among HIV-1 antibody-negative men, and Hodgkin's disease was diagnosed near the time of initial acquired immunodeficiency syndrome diagnoses. Anal cancer incidence did not correlate with HIV-1 antibody status and did not tend to occur near the time of AIDS diagnoses. This study confirms the association of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with HIV-1 infect on and suggests an association between Hodgkin's disease and HIV-1 infection. An excess in anal cancer was observed but did not appear to be associated with HIV-1 infection.
Wolf Szmuness Laboratory of Epidemiology, New York Blood Center, New York, USA.
B A
BA
Koblin
N A
NA
Hessol
A G
AG
Zauber
P E
PE
Taylor
S P
SP
Buchbinder
M H
MH
Katz
C E
CE
Stevens
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D015497:HIV-1; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology