Association between apolipoprotein E genotypes and cancer risk in patientswith acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

The apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotype was determined in 197 deceased acquire d immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients treated at Ullevaal Hospital in Oslo, Norway. A full autopsy had been performed on all. Cancer had develop ed in 71 individuals, mainly lymphomas (46) and Kaposi's sarcomas (18). The apoE genotype distribution was consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and allele frequencies were in the typical Scandinavian range (6.9% apoE2; 75.6% apoE3; and 17.5% apoE4). Cancer cases had a significantly higher fre quency of apoE4 alleles than noncancer cases (24.6% and 13.5%, respectively ) and a lower frequency of apoE2 alleles (3.5% versus 8.7%). Background fac tors, such as survival from AIDS diagnosis, could not explain these differe nces. Our study thus indicates that apoE genotype affects the development o f cancers among AIDS patients.