Review

Cancer risk in persons with HIV/AIDS in India: a review and future directions for research

Robert J Biggar^1,2 , Anil K Chaturvedi³ , Kishor Bhatia⁴ and Sam M Mbulaiteye³

¹  Dept. of Research, LV Prasad Eye Hospital, Hyderabad, India

²  Department of Epidemiology Research, State Serum Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark

³  Infection and Immunoepidemiology Branch, Division of Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

⁴  AIDS Malignancy Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

author email corresponding author email

Infectious Agents and Cancer 2009, 4:4doi:10.1186/1750-9378-4-4

Published:	28 March 2009

Abstract

Background

India has a large and evolving HIV epidemic. Little is known about cancer risk in Indian persons with HIV/AIDS (PHA) but risk is thought to be low.

Methods

To describe the state of knowledge about cancer patterns in Indian PHA, we reviewed reports from the international and Indian literature.

Results

As elsewhere, non-Hodgkin lymphomas dominate the profile of recognized cancers, with immunoblastic/large cell diffuse lymphoma being the most common type. Hodgkin lymphoma is proportionally increased, perhaps because survival with AIDS is truncated by fatal infections. In contrast, Kaposi sarcoma is rare, in association with an apparently low prevalence of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. If confirmed, the reasons for the low prevalence need to be understood. Cervical, anal, vulva/vaginal and penile cancers all appear to be increased in PHA, based on limited data. The association may be confounded by sexual behaviors that transmit both HIV and human papillomavirus. Head and neck tumor incidence may also be increased, an important concern since these tumors are among the most common in India. Based on limited evidence, the increase is at buccal/palatal sites, which are associated with tobacco and betel nut chewing rather than human papillomavirus.

Conclusion

With improving care of HIV and better management of infections, especially tuberculosis, the longer survival of PHA in India will likely increase the importance of cancer as a clinical problem in India. With the population's geographic and social diversity, India presents unique research opportunities that can be embedded in programs targeting HIV/AIDS and other public health priorities.