INCREASED INCIDENCE OF CANCER AMONG HOMOSEXUAL MEN, NEW-YORK-CITY ANDSAN-FRANCISCO, 1978-1990

Several studies have shown that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (H IV-1) is associated with an increase in the incidence of Kaposi's sarc oma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma among homosexual men. The role of HIV-1 in increasing the incidence of other malignancies is more controversi al. The incidence of non-Kaposi's sarcoma cancer was examined from 197 8 to 1990 among 15,565 homosexual men who participated in studies of h epatitis B virus infection in the late 1970s in New York City, New Yor k, and San Francisco, California. The standardized incidence ratio (SI R) for all cancers was 1.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-1.8). Exc esses were observed for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR = 12.7; 95% CI 11. 0-14.6), Hodgkin's disease (SIR = 2.5; 95% CI 1.5-3.9), and anal cance r (SIR = 24.2; 95% CI 13.5-39.9). As seen with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer known to be associated with HIV-I, Hodgkin's disease inciden ce was significantly higher in more recent years compared with earlier years, No cases of Hodgkin's disease were found among HIV-1 antibody- negative men, and Hodgkin's disease was diagnosed near the time of ini tial acquired immunodeficiency syndrome diagnoses. Anal cancer inciden ce did not correlate with HIV-1 antibody status and did not tend to oc cur near the time of AIDS diagnoses. This study confirms the associati on of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with HIV-1 infection and suggests an asso ciation between Hodgkin's disease and HIV-1 infection. An excess in an al cancer was observed but did not appear to be associated with HIV-1 infection.