title: Effect of radiation therapy to immunological and virological status in HIV/AIDS-cancer patients, preliminary report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe effects of radiation therapy (RT) on immunological status (CD4 cell counts) and disease progression among HIV-positive cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational study was conducted among HIV-positive cancer patients who received RT for curative intention of cancer in five selected hospitals in Thailand. All subjects received external beam radiation therapy, according to standard clinical practice guidelines of RT. Blood samples were taken 4 times for complete blood count, CD4 cell count and plasma HIV RNA viral load (HIV-VL) assays before and in the last week of RT, then three and six months after completion of RT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This preliminary study reported immunological status and HIV-VL before and the last week of RT, among 29 HIV-positive female cancer patients enrolled from August 22, 2009 to June 30, 2010. The median age was 38 years (range 30-54). 27 patients (93 percent) had invasive cervical cancer. 26 patients (90 percent) were on antiretroviral treatment (ART). The mean baseline white blood cell (WBC) count, lymphocyte percentage were 6,771.7 cells/microL and 31.7 percent respectively. The mean baseline CD4 cell count and CD4%, 387.8 cells/microL and 17.5 percent respectively. In the last week of RT, 25 subjects (86 percent) had CD4 count less than 200 cells/microL. The last week, mean WBC count, and mean lymphocyte percentage decreased to 3,902.8 cells/microL and 17.5 percent respectively. Mean CD4 count number decreased to 157.7 cells/microL, but the mean CD4 % did not change. Four patients (14 percent) had increased HIV-VL after RT, of these two were not on ART and two were on ART for more than 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CD4 cell count was not a good surrogate for prediction of immunologic status of HIV-positive cancer patients during RT.
authors: Division of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, Rajavithi Hospital, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand. spathomphorn@gmail.com
authors: Pathomphorn
authors: P
authors: Siraprapasiri
authors: Ekkasit
authors: E
authors: Tharavichitkul
authors: Nan
authors: N
authors: Suntornpong
authors: Chowkaew
authors: C
authors: Tovanabutra
authors: Thanomsak
authors: T
authors: Anekthananon
authors: Ekapop
authors: E
authors: Meennuch
authors: Thapana
authors: T
authors: Tangshevinsirikul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013785:Thailand; D019562:Viral Load / Q000528:radiation effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D012367:RNA, Viral