Lung cancer in HIV-positive patients

Malignancies account for more than a third of all deaths in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. Although acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related mortality is decreasing with the introduction of effective antiretroviral therapy, the incidence of lung cancer in patients with HIV remains high. Lung cancer has now become the leading cause of mortality among the nonacquired immunodeficiency syndrome defining malignancies. Within the HIV population, the incidence of lung cancer is estimated to be approximately 2 to 4 times that of the general population. Often these patients present with advanced disease (stage III or IV) at a younger age and have an inferior overall survival, when compared with non-HIV patients. Development of lung cancer in patients with HIV has been linked to various factors including immunosuppression, CD4 count, viral load, and smoking. This article reviews the impact of HIV on the incidence, risk factors, clinical presentation, and treatment of lung cancer.