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Review
. 2018 May;13(3):196-203.
doi: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000460.

Cancer in adolescents and young adults living with HIV

Julia Bohlius  1 , Caroline Foster  2 , Gita Naidu  3 , Mazvita Sengayi  4   5 , Anna Turkova  6   7
Affiliations
Review

Cancer in adolescents and young adults living with HIV

Julia Bohlius et al. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2018 May.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Adults living with HIV have an increased risk of malignancy yet there is little data for adolescents and young adults. We reviewed recently published cancer epidemiology, treatment, and outcome data for adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYALHIV) aged 10 to less than 25 years between 2016 and 2017.

Recent findings: AYALHIV are at increased risk of developing cancer compared to their uninfected peers. Kaposi sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma occur most frequently with variation by geographical region. Increased cancer risk is associated with HIV-related immunosuppression and coinfection with oncogenic viruses. Published data, particularly on posttreatment outcomes, remain limited and analyses are hampered by lack of data disaggregation by age and route of HIV transmission.

Summary: Although data are sparse, the increased cancer risk for AYALHIV is the cause for concern and must be modified by improving global access and uptake of antiretroviral therapy, human papilloma virus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination, screening for hepatitis B and C infection, and optimized cancer screening programs. Education aimed at reducing traditional modifiable cancer risk factors should be embedded within multidisciplinary services for AYALHIV.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

No conflicts of interests were declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Estimates for number of adolescents and young adults living with HIV in 2016 stratified by age group, sex and UNAIDS region
Estimates for (i) western, central Europe and North America and (ii) eastern Europe and central Asia for adolescents aged 10 to <15 years are not available. F=female, M=male. Source: UNAIDS 2017 estimates.
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