Cancers not associated with immunodeficiency in HIV infected persons

Kaposi's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and cervical carcinoma are the malignancies most clearly associated with HIV infection. Other malignancies with no established association with immunodeficiency, in particular, lung cancer and germ-cell malignancies, also occur in persons with HIV infection, and there is clear overlap in the demographic characteristics of patients with these tumors and HIV-infected individuals. Compared with lung cancer in the general population, lung cancer in HIV-infected patients presents at a younger age, with more advanced disease, and more commonly with adenocarcinoma. No correlations between degree of immunodeficiency and stage of lung cancer at presentation or duration of survival have been established. Patients with and without HIV infection who develop germ-cell malignancies are similar in presentation and tumor histology. Treatment for germ-cell malignancies is well-tolerated and appropriate for HIV-infected patients.