title: Malignancies in women with HIV infection.
abstract: Women with HIV infection have an increased risk of developing certain malignancies. These malignancies are commonly human papillomavirus (HPV)-related, reflecting the high rate of coinfection with HPV in women with underlying HIV infection. These women also have a high incidence of premalignant HPV-related changes, such as high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions as diagnosed on Pap smears and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia on cervical biopsy. Screening recommendations for HIV-infected women reflect the need for vigilance in detecting and treating these lesions early. In addition, recent interest has focused on the use of cervical cancer screening, employing HPV-testing techniques, and on HPV vaccination in younger women to prevent initial infection and the subsequent development of cervical and other HPV-related cancers. The incidence of other types of malignancies, such as Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is also increased in HIV-infected individuals. When these lymphomas occur, they tend to be of advanced stage and high-grade histologies. The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy has been associated with a marked decrease in the incidence of some of these cancers. The use of therapy has been associated with marked improvement in response rates and overall survival of affected patients.
authors.affiliation: City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA. akrishnan@coh.org
authors.forename: Amrita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.forename: Alexandra M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016387:Women's Health