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Human immunodeficiency virus and lung cancer
M T Alshafie1, B Donaldson, S F Oluwole
1Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, Harlem Hospital Center, New York, New York 10037, USA.
The British Journal of Surgery
|August 1, 1997
Summary
Lung cancer incidence may be rising in men with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. While a direct link is unclear due to other risk factors, HIV-infected patients experienced shorter survival times.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and lung cancer is not well-defined.
- Multiple confounding risk factors in HIV-infected individuals complicate the establishment of a direct causal link to lung cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics and outcomes of lung cancer in HIV-seropositive patients compared to HIV-indeterminate patients.
- To explore potential associations between HIV status and lung cancer presentation, histology, and survival.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of lung cancer patients at Harlem Hospital Center (1990-1994).
- Comparison of 11 HIV-seropositive patients with 116 HIV-indeterminate patients.
- Analysis included age, sex, race, risk factors, cancer stage, histology, and survival.
Main Results:
- HIV-infected lung cancer patients were younger, predominantly male smokers, compared to controls.
- A trend towards higher adenocarcinoma incidence was observed in HIV-seropositive patients, though not statistically significant.
- HIV-infected patients exhibited shorter survival, suggesting potentially more aggressive cancer or impact of immunoincompetence.
Conclusions:
- Establishing a direct cause-effect relationship between HIV and lung cancer is challenging due to co-existing risk factors.
- The incidence of lung cancer may be increasing among HIV-infected men.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between HIV, immunoincompetence, and lung cancer progression.