The spectrum of HIV-1 related cancers in South Africa

Despite the high prevalence of infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Viru s (HIV) in South Africa, information on its association with cancer is spar se. Our study was carried out to examine the relationship between HIV and a number of cancer types or sites that are common in South Africa. A total o f 4,883 subjects, presenting with a cancer or cardiovascular disease at the 3 tertiary referral hospitals in Johannesburg, were interviewed and had bl ood tested for HIV. Odds ratios associated with HIV infection were calculat ed by using unconditional logistic regression models for 16 major cancer ty pes where data was available for 50 or more patients. In the comparison gro up, the prevalence of HIV infection was 8.3% in males and 9.1% in females. Significant excess risks associated with HIV infection were found for Kapos i's sarcoma (OR=21.9, 95% CI=12.5-38.6), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (OR=5.0, 95%C I=2.7-9.5), vulval cancer (OR=4.8, 95%CI = 1.9-12.2) and cervical cancer (O R 1.6, 95%CI=1.1-2.3) but not for any of the other major cancer types exami ned, including Hodgkin disease, multiple myeloma and lung cancer. In Johann esburg, South Africa, HIV infection was associated with significantly incre ased risks of Kaposi's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and cancers of the cer vix and the vulva. The relative risks for Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma associated with HIV infection were substantially lower than those found in the West. Int. J, Cancer 88:489-492, 2000, (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, In c.