Smoke and mirrors: HIV-related lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy has dramatically reduced AIDS-related illnesses and increased life expectancy for people living with HIV infection. At the same time, non-AIDS-defining cancers are becoming an increasing problem and now account for a large proportion of HIV-related deaths. Perhaps the most important and controversial of these is HIV-related lung cancer. There are a number of unresolved issues surrounding this illness, which are the subject of this review.


RESULTS
Smoking does not account for all of the increase in the incidence of lung cancer seen in HIV patients. Other factors accounting for the increased incidence remain undefined. Highly active antiretroviral therapy may not have had a beneficial effect on either the incidence or outcome of the disease, which needs further investigation. Early diagnosis and offering these patients potentially curative therapy wherever appropriate is of utmost importance.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV-related lung cancer is becoming an increasingly important problem as patients are living longer with HIV infection.
Bazoes
Alexandra
A
The Institute of Cancer, Barts and the London NHS Trust, Queen Mary University of London, UK.
Bower
Mark
M
Powles
Thomas
T
D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate