Cancers associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in AIDS: a link between KS herpesvirus and immunoblastic lymphoma

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), common among persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is caused by KS herpesvirus (KSHV) but whether KSHV causes other malignancies is uncertain. Using linked United States AIDS and cance r registries, we measured the incidence of specific malignancies in persons with AIDS (4-27 months after AIDS onset). We identified associations with KSHV by calculating a relative risk: cancer incidence in persons with KS (a ll were KSHV-infected) divided by incidence in persons without KS. Using Po isson regression, relative risks were adjusted for human immunodeficiency v irus risk group, gender, age, race, and calendar year. We included 189 159 subjects (26 972 with KS). Immunoblastic lymphoma was significantly associa ted with KS (506 cases; relative risks: unadjusted 2.44, 95%Cl 2.00-2.96, a djusted 1.58, 95%Cl 1.29-1.93). Only one immunoblastic lymphoma had pleura as primary site. None of 37 other specified malignancies (other non-Hodgkin lymphomas, haematological malignancies, solid tumours) was significantly a ssociated with KS. In summary, the association of immunoblastic lymphoma wi th KS was specific among examined malignancies and remained significant aft er statistical adjustment. Our findings, and the previously demonstrated pr esence of KSHV in the histologically related primary effusion lymphoma, sug gest that KSHV is involved in the pathogenesis of some immunoblastic lympho mas. (C) 2001 Cancer Research Campaign.