Malignant tumors other than lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma in association with HIV infection

Since 1981 there has been a constant rise in the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and the anorectum among homosexual men in the United States. In addition, lung cancer, testicular cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, cervical cancer, and multiple myeloma have been recently reported in persons at risk for AIDS with HIV infection, with some peculiar clinicopathological features, including age, histological type, and clinical aggressiveness. Within the GICAT (Gruppo Italiano Cooperativo AIDS & Tumori) framework, we have identified four cases of testicular cancer, two cases of leukemia, and 1 case each of cervical cancer, carcinoma of the oral cavity, lung cancer, brain tumor, and multiple myeloma in persons at risk for AIDS, mainly i.v. drug abusers, with HIV infection, diagnosed in different Italian institutions. Work is in progress in order to collect histological and clinical data on these tumors. Although these data are preliminary and are not indicative of an actual increase in the incidence of malignancies other than malignant lymphomas and Kaposi's sarcoma in the AIDS setting, clinicians should be aware of the possible association of these tumors with HIV infection.