Patterns of AIDS-defining and Non-AIDS-defining Malignancies in People Living with HIV/AIDS: A 6-Year Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Center in South India

People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are at increased risk of developing malignancies, both AIDS-defining and non-AIDS-defining, and trends in incidence and severity have changed since the advent of Antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study aimed to analyze the spectrum of AIDS-defining and non-AIDS-defining malignancies in PLWHA.

A 6-year retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary care center by reviewing the medical records of PLWHA, which included those diagnosed with cancer. The data obtained were entered into an Excel spreadsheet, and descriptive statistical analysis was performed.

Among the 627 PLWHA, 46 (7.3%) developed cancer, among whom 14 (30.4%) had AIDS-defining cancer, with the most common cancer being Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) (71.4%). Non-AIDS-related cancer was reported in 32 patients (69.6%), with the most common factors being oral cavity and upper airway tract malignancies (21.9%), followed by haemato-lymphoid malignancies (18.8%).

The frequency of non-AIDS-defining malignancies mirrors that of the general population, which may be due to the increased survival rate of people living with HIV/AIDS. A multidisciplinary approach for early detection and cancer screening is recommended for people living with HIV.