Cancer and HIV: The Molecular Mechanisms of the Deadly Duo

• Published in: Cancers Vol. 16; no. 3; p. 546
• Main Authors: Omar, Aadilah, Marques, Natasia, Crawford, Nicole
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Antigens; Antiretroviral therapy; antiretroviral therapy (ART); Antiviral agents; Apoptosis; B cells; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Care and treatment; Cervical cancer; Cytokines; Cytotoxicity; Developing countries; Development and progression; Diagnosis; Disease susceptibility; Epstein-Barr virus; Fatalities; Growth factors; Herpes viruses; Highly active antiretroviral therapy; HIV; HIV (Viruses); HIV infection; HIV patients; HIV/AIDS; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human papillomavirus; Immune system; Industrialized nations; Infection; Infections; invasive cervical cancer; Kaposi sarcoma; LDCs; Life expectancy; Malignancy; Molecular modelling; Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas; Oncology, Experimental; Proteins; Sarcoma; Telomerase; Vincristine; Viral infections; viral load; Virus diseases; Sub-Saharan Africa; HIV/AIDS; Kaposi sarcoma; antiretroviral therapy (ART); invasive cervical cancer; viral load; non-AIDS-defining malignancy; AIDS-defining malignancy; non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma; cancer
• ISSN: 2072-6694; 2072-6694
• DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030546

The immune deficiency associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection causes a distinct increased risk of developing certain cancer types. Kaposi sarcoma (KS), invasive cervical cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) are the prominent malignancies that manifest as a result of opportunistic viral infections in patients with advanced HIV infection. Despite the implementation of antiretroviral therapy (ART), the prevalence of these acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining malignancies (ADMs) remains high in developing countries. In contrast, developed countries have experienced a steady decline in the occurrence of these cancer types. However, there has been an increased mortality rate attributed to non-ADMs. Here, we provide a review of the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for the development of ADMs and non-ADMs which occur in HIV-infected individuals. It is evident that ART alone is not sufficient to fully mitigate the potential for ADMs and non-ADMs in HIV-infected individuals. To enhance the diagnosis and treatment of both HIV and malignancies, a thorough comprehension of the mechanisms driving the development of such cancers is imperative.