Risk of Second Malignancies in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients Who Develop Keratinocyte Cancers

Solid organ transplant recipients have increased risk for developing keratinocyte cancers, including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), in part as a result of immunosuppressive medications administered to prevent graft rejection. In the general population, keratinocyte cancers are associated with increased risks of subsequent malignancy, however, the risk in organ transplant populations has not been evaluated. We addressed this question by linking the U.S. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, which includes data on keratinocyte cancer occurrence, with 15 state cancer registries. Risk of developing malignancies after keratinocyte cancer was assessed among 118,440 Caucasian solid organ transplant recipients using multivariate Cox regression models. Cutaneous SCC occurrence (n = 6,169) was associated with 1.44-fold increased risk [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.31-1.59] for developing later malignancies. Risks were particularly elevated for non-cutaneous SCC, including those of the oral cavity/pharynx (HR, 5.60; 95% CI, 4.18-7.50) and lung (HR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.16-2.31). Cutaneous SCC was also associated with increased risk of human papillomavirus-related cancers, including anal cancer (HR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.29-5.96) and female genital cancers (HR, 3.43; 95% CI, 1.44-8.19). In contrast, BCC (n = 3,669) was not associated with overall risk of later malignancy (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.87-1.12), including any SCC. Our results suggest that transplant recipients with cutaneous SCC, but not BCC, have an increased risk of developing other SCC. These findings somewhat differ from those for the general population and suggest a shared etiology for cutaneous SCC and other SCC in the setting of immunosuppression. Cutaneous SCC occurrence after transplantation could serve as a marker for elevated malignancy risk. Cancer Res; 77(15); 4196-203. ©2017 AACR.

Chronic Sinusitis and Risk of Head and Neck Cancer in the US Elderly Population

Importance

Chronic sinusitis may be involved in the etiology of certain head and neck cancers (HNCs), due to immunodeficiency or inflammation. However, the risk of specific HNCs among people with chronic sinusitis is largely unknown.

Objective

To evaluate the associations of chronic sinusitis with subsequent HNC, including nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC), and nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer (NCPSC), in an elderly US population.

Design, Setting, and Participants

We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database to conduct a case-cohort study of US individuals aged 65 years or older during 2004 through 2011. The study included 483 546 Medicare beneficiaries from SEER areas in a 5% random subcohort, and 826 436 from the entire source population who developed cancer (including 21 716 with HNC).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Incidence of HNCs including NPC, HPV-OPC, and NCPSC.

Results

Most individuals were female (57.7%), and the mean (SD) age at entry was 72.6 (8.0) years. Chronic sinusitis was associated with risk of developing HNC (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.37; 95% CI, 1.27-1.48), particularly NPC (aHR, 3.71; 95% CI, 2.75-5.02), HPV-OPC (aHR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.13-1.57), and NCPSC (aHR, 5.49; 95% CI, 4.56-6.62). Most of this increased risk was limited to risk within 1 year of the chronic sinusitis diagnosis, as associations were largely attenuated 1 year or more after chronic sinusitis (NPC: aHR, 1.60; 95% CI, 0.96-2.65; HPV-OPC: aHR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.86-1.32; NCPSC: aHR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.84-3.31). All 3 HNC subtypes had cumulative incidence of less than 0.07% 8 years after chronic sinusitis diagnosis.

Conclusions and Relevance

Chronic sinusitis is associated with certain HNCs, particularly NPC and NCPSC. These HNCs are rare, and most of the increased HNC risk is limited to within 1 year of chronic sinusitis diagnosis, consistent with surveillance or detection bias. The associations were weaker over longer intervals, suggesting at most a modest role for sinusitis-related inflammation and/or immunodeficiency.

Abstract 5302: Projections of cancer incidence and burden among the HIV-positive population in the United States through 2030

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) are at an elevated risk of several cancer types. With widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to treat HIV, survival has improved among PLWH, resulting in an aging U.S. HIV population. Though HAART use has reduced the risk of certain cancers, in the near future, a larger fraction of PLWH will reach age groups where cancer risks are further elevated, potentially shifting the distribution of cancers in the population. Here, we projected cancer incidence rates and burden among U.S. PLWH through 2030 for Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and cervical cancer (3 AIDS-defining cancers [ADCs]), and anal, breast, colon, lung, liver, prostate and oral cancers, Hodgkin lymphoma and all other cancers combined (all non-AIDS-defining cancers [NADCs]).

Methods: We used cancer incidence data (2000-12) collected from the HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study, a record linkage study of HIV and cancer registries. Using Poisson regression, we estimated cancer incidence rates in PLWH stratified by age group and, for some cancers, risk group (e.g., men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs) during 2013-30. The number of PLWH in the U.S. by age, risk group and calendar year (2006-30) was estimated using a dynamic compartmental model. To estimate cancer burden, observed and projected incidence rates and HIV population counts were multiplied.

Results: The proportion of the total U.S. HIV population that is aged ≥65 years is projected to increase from 4.1% (of 1.06 million) in 2006 to 21.4% (of 1.09 million) in 2030. Based on significant declines during 2000-12, age-specific rates are projected to decrease across age groups for NHL, cervical cancer, lung cancer and all other cancers, and for some age groups for KS, Hodgkin lymphoma and colon cancer. All other age-specific rates did not change significantly, with the exception of prostate cancer rates, which are projected to continue to increase. We estimated that the total cancer burden in PLWH will decrease from 7908 cases in 2010 (2719 ADC and 5190 NADC) to 6495 cases in 2030 (701 ADC and 5794 NADC), indicating a strong decrease in ADCs and a slight increase in NADCs. In 2030, the most common cancers among PLWH will include: prostate (n=1624), lung (n=786), liver (n=498) and anal cancers (n=447) and NHL (n=429).

Conclusions: Though cancer rates are generally decreasing, cancer will remain an important co-morbidity as the U.S. HIV population ages. If recent trends in cancer incidence continue into the future, the burden of NADCs, particularly prostate, lung, liver and anal cancers, will far exceed the burden of ADCs in 2030. Targeted cancer prevention, early detection and control efforts are needed for PLWH in the U.S., including smoking cessation, treatment of hepatitis C and B viruses, cancer screening and continued widespread treatment with HAART.

Citation Format: Jessica Y. Islam, Philip S. Rosenberg, H Irene Hall, Evin U. Jacobson, Eric A. Engels, Meredith S. Shiels. Projections of cancer incidence and burden among the HIV-positive population in the United States through 2030 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5302. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5302

Abstract 5298: Lung cancer risk and scarring on imaging and histology in the National Lung Screening Trial

Background: The contribution of pulmonary scars to lung cancer development and the degree to which lung cancers cause a scarring response are unclear. Also unknown is how lung scarring impacts lung cancer screening.

Methods: We evaluated associations between scarring and lung cancer in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), a lung cancer screening trial among current or former, heavy smokers, 55-74 years-old. Baseline scarring (presence vs. absence) on screening low dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan was assessed at baseline (T0). Associations of T0 scarring with screen-detected lung cancers and with interval-detected lung cancers missed on screening within 3 years of T0 screen were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the relationship between T0 scarring and incident lung cancers diagnosed >3 years after T0. Regression models included age, sex, race, smoking history, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, history of pneumonia, and family history of lung cancer. A thoracic pathologist (first author) evaluated lung cancer pathology slides from the Lung Screening Study (LSS) subset of NLST for scar grade (none, sparse, dense) and maturity (none, immature, intermediate, mature). Associations between T0 scarring on LDCT and histological scarring were examined by logistic regression.

Results: NLST’s LDCT arm enrolled 26,722 participants (65% from the LSS). T0 scars were present in 132 (22%) screen-detected, 12 (29%) interval-detected, and 94 (26%) incident lung cancer cases. T0 scarring did not increase or decrease screen-detection of cancers [odds ratio (OR) 95% CI: 1.03 (0.84-1.26)]. However, scarring might increase the chance of an interval-detected cancer [OR (95% CI): 1.54 (0.76-3.12)]. After screening stopped, T0 scarring was associated with increased incident lung cancer risk [hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI): 1.27 (1.00-1.62); P=0.048]. Pathology slides were available for 258 (38%) lung cancers in LSS. Lung scarring was found in 172 (67%) of these cancers with 58 (22%) being characterized as mature scars. On microscopic review, scars were found in 80 (66%) ADC, 46 (82%) squamous cell carcinomas, and 20 (51%) bronchioloalveolar carcinomas. Microscopic scarring tended to be more frequent among cases with T0 scarring than those without T0 scarring (75% vs. 64%; P=0.10) [OR (95% CI): 1.89 (0.98-3.86)].

Conclusion: The association between T0 scarring and incident lung cancer over a period of more than 3 years is consistent with an etiologic contribution of scarring to development of lung cancer. The relationship between T0 scarring and scarring on microscopic evaluation suggests that scarring preceded the cancer, further supporting an etiologic relationship. Finally, the borderline association of T0 scarring and interval cancers suggests that scarring may decrease the sensitivity of screening.

Citation Format: Alison L. Van Dyke, Christine D. Berg, Neil E. Caporaso, Hormuzd A. Katki, Anil K. Chaturvedi, Eric A. Engels. Lung cancer risk and scarring on imaging and histology in the National Lung Screening Trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5298. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-5298

Association of HIV Status With Local Immune Response to Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Implications for Immunotherapy

IMPORTANCE

The programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway play an important immunosuppressive role in cancer and chronic viral infection, and have been effectively targeted in cancer therapy. Anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is associated with both human papillomavirus and HIV infection. To date, patients with HIV have been excluded from most trials of immune checkpoint blocking agents, such as anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1, because it was assumed that their antitumor immunity was compromised compared with immunocompetent patients.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the local tumor immune microenvironment (TME) in anal SCCs from HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Anal SCC tumor specimens derived from the AIDS and Cancer Specimen Resource (National Cancer Institute) and Johns Hopkins Hospital included specimens. Tumors were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis for immune checkpoints (PD-L1, PD-1, LAG-3) and immune cell (IC) subsets (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD68). Expression profiling for immune-related genes was performed on select HIV-positive and HIV-negative cases in PD-L1+ tumor areas associated with ICs.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Programmed death-ligand 1 expression on tumor cells and ICs, PD-L1 patterns (adaptive vs constitutive), degree of IC infiltration, quantified densities of IC subsets, and gene expression profiles in anal SCCs from HIV-positive vs HIV-negative patients.

RESULTS

Approximately half of 40 tumor specimens from 23 HIV-positive and 17 HIV-negative patients (29 men and 11 women; mean [SD] age, 51 [9.9] years) demonstrated tumor cell PD-L1 expression, regardless of HIV status. Median IC densities were not significantly decreased in HIV-associated tumors for any cellular subset studied. Both adaptive (IC-associated) and constitutive PD-L1 expression patterns were observed. Immune cell PD-L1 expression correlated with increasing intensity of IC infiltration (r = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.26-0.78; P < .001) and with CD8+ T-cell density (r = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.11-0.59; P = .03). Gene expression profiling revealed comparable levels of IFNG in the TME of both HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. A significant increase in IL18 expression levels was observed in HIV-associated anal SCCs (fold change, 12.69; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

HIV status does not correlate with the degree or composition of IC infiltration or PD-L1 expression in anal SCC. These findings demonstrate an immune-reactive TME in anal SCCs from HIV-positive patients and support clinical investigations of PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockade in anal SCC, irrespective of patient HIV status.

Abstract 273: Risk of primary central nervous system lymphomas in solid organ transplant recipients

Background: The risk of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is greatly increased in HIV-infected people. Case series have described PCNSL in immunosuppressed solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients (SOTRs). Herein, we examine the incidence and risk factors for PCNSL in SOTRs.

Methods: We used data from the Transplant Cancer Match Study, which links the US transplant registry with 17 cancer registries (1987 - 2014). PCNSL risk relative to the general population was estimated as a standardized incidence ratio (SIR = observed/expected cases). Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) of PCNSL across subgroups of SOTRs. Logistic regression was used for case-case comparisons of PCNSL with other non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL).

Results: We included 288,637 SOTs. There were 173 PCNSL cases (SIR 57.7; 95%CI 49.4-66.9) and 2,583 other NHLs (SIR 7.3; 95%CI 7.0-7.6). Most PCNSL were diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (n=118; 68.2%). Compared to kidney SOTRs, PCNSL risk was lower in liver SOTRs (aIRR 0.5; 95%CI 0.3-0.9), not different in heart and/or lung SOTRs (aIRR 0.9; 95%CI 0.6-1.5) and higher in other/multiple SOTRs (aIRR 2.4; 95%CI 1.5-3.8). Asians/Pacific Islanders had higher PCNSL risk than non-Hispanic whites (aIRR 2.0; 95%CI 1.2-3.3). People who received induction therapy with alemtuzumab (aIRR 2.8; 95%CI 1.5-5.5) or polyclonal antibodies (aIRR 1.9; 95%CI 1.3-2.8) had higher PCNSL risk. SOTRs who were seronegative for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) at transplant had higher risk (aIRR 2.0; 95%CI 1.1-3.5) than seropositive SOTRs. PCNSL risk was high in the first 1.5 years after SOT (0.5-1 year, aIRR 2.6; 1-1.5 years, aIRR 2.3; vs. 0-0.5 year) and progressively decreased over time (ptrend&lt;0.0001). Risk did not differ according to the age at SOT, sex, or maintenance immunosuppressive regimen. Compared to other NHL, PCNSL cases were more likely to be middle aged (18-64 years) at transplant (p=0.009), Asians/Pacific Islanders (p=0.02), or have received induction therapy with polyclonal antibodies (p=0.002), and less likely to be liver or heart and/or lung SOTRs (p=0.02). EBV serostatus did not differ between PCNSL and other NHL (p=0.11). Conclusions: PCNSL risk is very elevated among SOTRs. Because EBV-seronegative SOTRs are at risk of primary infection after SOT, these results highlight the important contribution of EBV to PCNSL. Risk is highest within 1.5 years after transplant, in people who receive multiple non-thoracic organs, and is associated with induction therapy with alemtuzumab or polyclonal antibodies. Case-case differences with other NHLs suggest unique etiologic factors leading to PCNSL.

Citation Format: Parag Mahale, Meredith S. Shiels, Eric A. Engels. Risk of primary central nervous system lymphomas in solid organ transplant recipients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 273. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-273

Excess Mortality among HIV-Infected Individuals with Cancer in the United States

Background: Human immunodefieciency virus (HIV)-infected persons are living longer in the era of effective HIV treatment, resulting in an increasing cancer burden in this population. The combined effects of HIV and cancer on mortality are incompletely understood.Methods: We examined whether individuals with both HIV and cancer have excess mortality using data from the HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study and the National Center for Health Statistics (1996-2010). We compared age, sex, and race-stratified mortality between people with and without HIV or one of the following cancers: lung, breast, prostate, colorectum, anus, Hodgkin lymphoma, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We utilized additive Poisson regression models that included terms for HIV, cancer, and an interaction for their combined effect on mortality. We report the number of excess deaths per 1,000 person-years for models with a significant interaction (P < 0.05).Results: For all cancers examined except prostate cancer, at least one demographic subgroup of HIV-infected cancer patients experienced significant excess mortality. Excess mortality was most pronounced at younger ages (30-49 years), with large excesses for males with lung cancer (white race: 573 per 1,000 person-years; non-white: 503) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (white: 236; non-white: 261), and for females with Hodgkin lymphoma (white: 216; non-white: 136) and breast cancer (non-white: 107).Conclusions: In the era of effective HIV treatment, overall mortality in patients with both HIV and cancer was significantly higher than expected on the basis of mortality rates for each disease separately.Impact: These results suggest that HIV may contribute to cancer progression and highlight the importance of improved cancer prevention and care for the U.S. HIV population. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(7); 1027-33. ©2017 AACR.

Invited Commentary: A Landmark Study Launched in a Public Health Maelstrom

The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic was first recognized in 1981, and it quickly became a public health emergency. In a 1987 paper in the American Journal of Epidemiology (Am J Epidemiol. 1987;126(2): 310-318), Richard Kaslow et al. described the launch of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), a cohort study of homosexual men in 4 US cities, the purpose of which was to better understand the natural history of AIDS and its determinants. The MACS enrolled participants through a range of community contacts. These efforts facilitated rapid recruitment, but given the targeted approaches, participants tended to comprise high-risk social networks. At baseline, 4%-26% of participants at the 4 sites reported having a sexual partner who had developed AIDS. Kaslow et al. also described baseline testing for the causative agent of AIDS, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV seroprevalence was remarkably high, ranging from 11%-26% across age groups in Pittsburgh to 38%-53% in Los Angeles. The major turning point in the epidemic occurred in 1995-1996 when combination antiretroviral therapy was introduced, effectively blocking HIV replication and markedly reducing AIDS morbidity and mortality. The MACS cohort continues to be followed actively 3 decades after its launch and has proven to be an important resource for information on HIV infection and AIDS.

Cancer Risk After Pediatric Solid Organ Transplantation

BACKGROUND

The effects of pediatric solid organ transplantation on cancer risk may differ from those observed in adult recipients. We described cancers in pediatric recipients and compared incidence to the general population.

METHODS

The US transplant registry was linked to 16 cancer registries to identify cancer diagnoses among recipients <18 years old at transplant. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were estimated by dividing observed cancer counts among recipients by expected counts based on the general population rates. Cox regression was used to estimate the associations between recipient characteristics and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) risk.

RESULTS

Among 17 958 pediatric recipients, 392 cancers were diagnosed, of which 279 (71%) were NHL. Compared with the general population, incidence was significantly increased for NHL (SIR = 212, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 188-238), Hodgkin's lymphoma (SIR = 19, 95% CI = 13-26), leukemia (SIR = 4, 95% CI = 2-7), myeloma (SIR = 229, 95% CI = 47-671), and cancers of the liver, soft tissue, ovary, vulva, testis, bladder, kidney, and thyroid. NHL risk was highest during the first year after transplantation among recipients <5 years old at transplant (SIR = 313), among recipients seronegative for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) at transplant (SIR = 446), and among intestine transplant recipients (SIR = 1280). In multivariable analyses, seronegative EBV status, the first year after transplantation, intestine transplantation, and induction immunosuppression were independently associated with higher NHL incidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric recipients have a markedly increased risk for many cancers. NHL constitutes the majority of diagnosed cancers, with the highest risk occurring in the first year after transplantation. NHL risk was high in recipients susceptible to primary EBV infection after transplant and in intestine transplant recipients, perhaps due to EBV transmission in the donor organ.

HIV Infection, Immunosuppression, and Age at Diagnosis of Non-AIDS-Defining Cancers

Background

It is unclear whether immunosuppression leads to younger ages at cancer diagnosis among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH). A previous study found that most cancers are not diagnosed at a younger age in people with AIDS, with the exception of anal and lung cancers. This study extends prior work to include all PLWH and examines associations between AIDS, CD4 count, and age at cancer diagnosis.

Methods

We compared the median age at cancer diagnosis between PLWH in the North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design and the general population using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program. We used statistical weights to adjust for population differences. We also compared median age at cancer diagnosis by AIDS status and CD4 count.

Results

After adjusting for population differences, younger ages at diagnosis (P < .05) were observed for PLWH compared with the general population for lung (difference in medians = 4 years), anal (difference = 4), oral cavity/pharynx (difference = 2), and kidney cancers (difference = 2) and myeloma (difference = 4). Among PLWH, having an AIDS-defining event was associated with a younger age at myeloma diagnosis (difference = 4; P = .01), and CD4 count <200 cells/µL (vs ≥500) was associated with a younger age at lung cancer diagnosis (difference = 4; P = .006).

Conclusions

Among PLWH, most cancers are not diagnosed at younger ages. However, this study strengthens evidence that lung cancer, anal cancer, and myeloma are diagnosed at modestly younger ages, and also shows younger ages at diagnosis of oral cavity/pharynx and kidney cancers, possibly reflecting accelerated cancer progression, etiologic heterogeneity, or risk factor exposure in PLWH.

Spectrum of Immune-Related Conditions Associated with Risk of Keratinocyte Cancers among Elderly Adults in the United States

Background: Elevated keratinocyte carcinoma risk is present with several immune-related conditions, e.g., solid organ transplantation and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Because many immune-related conditions are rare, their relationships with keratinocyte carcinoma have not been studied.Methods: We used Medicare claims to identify cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cases in 2012, and controls matched on sex and age. All subjects were aged 65 to 95 years, of white race, and had attended ≥1 dermatologist visit in 2010-2011. Immune-related conditions were identified during 1999-2011 using Medicare claims. Associations were estimated with logistic regression, with statistical significance determined after Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.Results: We included 258,683 SCC and 304,903 BCC cases. Of 47 immune-related conditions, 21 and 9 were associated with increased SCC and BCC risk, respectively. We identified strongly elevated keratinocyte carcinoma risk with solid organ transplantation (SCC OR = 5.35; BCC OR = 1.94) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (SCC OR = 1.62; BCC OR = 1.25). We identified associations with common conditions, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis [SCC OR = 1.06, 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.04-1.09] and Crohn's disease (SCC OR = 1.33, 95% CI, 1.27-1.39; BCC OR = 1.10, 95% CI, 1.05-1.15), and rare or poorly characterized conditions, e.g., granulomatosis with polyangiitis (SCC OR = 1.88; 95% CI, 1.61-2.19), autoimmune hepatitis (SCC OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.52-2.16), and deficiency of humoral immunity (SCC OR = 1.51, 95% CI, 1.41-1.61; BCC OR = 1.22, 95% CI, 1.14-1.31). Most conditions were more positively associated with SCC than BCC. Associations were generally consistent regardless of prior keratinocyte carcinoma history.Conclusions: Many immune-related conditions are associated with elevated keratinocyte carcinoma risk and appear more tightly linked to SCC.Impact: Immunosuppression or immunosuppressive treatment may increase keratinocyte carcinoma risk, particularly SCC. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(7); 998-1007. ©2017 AACR.

National Institutes of Health Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Late Effects Initiative: The Subsequent Neoplasms Working Group Report

Subsequent neoplasms (SN) after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) cause significant patient morbidity and mortality. Risks for specific SN types vary substantially, with particularly elevated risks for post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders, myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia, and squamous cell malignancies. This document provides an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding SN after HCT and recommends priorities and approaches to overcome challenges and gaps in understanding. Numerous factors have been suggested to affect risk, including patient-related (eg, age), primary disease-related (eg, disease type, pre-HCT therapies), and HCT-related characteristics (eg, type and intensity of conditioning regimen, stem cell source, development of graft-versus-host disease). However, gaps in understanding remain for each of these risk factors, particularly for patients receiving HCT in the current era because of substantial advances in clinical transplantation practices. Additionally, the influence of nontransplantation-related risk factors (eg, germline genetic susceptibility, oncogenic viruses, lifestyle factors) is poorly understood. Clarification of the magnitude of SN risks and identification of etiologic factors will require large-scale, long-term, systematic follow-up of HCT survivors with detailed clinical data. Most investigations of the mechanisms of SN pathogenesis after HCT have focused on immune drivers. Expansion of our understanding in this area will require interdisciplinary laboratory collaborations utilizing measures of immune function and availability of archival tissue from SN diagnoses. Consensus-based recommendations for optimal preventive, screening, and therapeutic approaches have been developed for certain SN after HCT, whereas for other SN, general population guidelines are recommended. Further evidence is needed to specifically tailor preventive, screening, and therapeutic guidelines for SN after HCT, particularly for unique patient populations. Accomplishment of this broad research agenda will require increased investment in systematic data collection with engagement from patients, clinicians, and interdisciplinary scientists to reduce the burden of SN in the rapidly growing population of HCT survivors.

Outcomes of cervical cancer among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women treated at the Brazilian National Institute of Cancer

OBJECTIVE

We assessed mortality, treatment response, and relapse among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women with cervical cancer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

DESIGN

Cohort study of 87 HIV-infected and 336 HIV-uninfected women with cervical cancer.

METHODS

Patients at the Brazilian National Institute of Cancer (2001-2013) were matched on age, calendar year of diagnosis, clinical stage, and tumor histology. Staging and treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy followed international guidelines. We used a Markov model to assess responses to initial therapy, and Cox models for mortality and relapse after complete response (CR).

RESULTS

Among 234 deaths, most were from cancer (82% in HIV-infected vs. 93% in HIV-uninfected women); only 9% of HIV-infected women died from AIDS. HIV was not associated with mortality during initial follow-up but was associated more than 1-2 years after diagnosis [overall mortality: stage-adjusted hazard ratio 2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-3.22; cancer-specific mortality: 4.35, 1.86-10.2]. Among 222 patients treated with radiotherapy, HIV-infected had similar response rates to initial cancer therapy as HIV-uninfected women (hazard ratio 0.98, 95% CI 0.58-1.66). However, among women who were treated and had a CR, HIV was associated with elevated risk of subsequent relapse (hazard ratio 3.60, 95% CI 1.86-6.98, adjusted for clinical stage).

CONCLUSION

Among women with cervical cancer, HIV infection was not associated with initial treatment response or early mortality, but relapse after attaining a CR and late mortality were increased in those with HIV. These results point to a role for an intact immune system in control of residual tumor burden among treated cervical cancer patients.

Hepatitis C virus infection and the risk of cancer among elderly US adults: A registry-based case-control study

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Associations with other cancers are not established. The authors systematically assessed associations between HCV infection and cancers in the US elderly population.

METHODS

This was a registry-based case-control study using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data in US adults aged ≥66 years. Cases (n = 1,623,538) were patients who had first cancers identified in SEER registries (1993-2011). Controls (n = 200,000) were randomly selected, cancer-free individuals who were frequency-matched to cases on age, sex, race, and calendar year. Associations with HCV (documented by Medicare claims) were determined using logistic regression.

RESULTS

HCV prevalence was higher in cases than in controls (0.7% vs 0.5%). HCV was positively associated with cancers of the liver (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 31.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 29.0-34.3), intrahepatic bile duct (aOR, 3.40; 95% CI, 2.52-4.58), extrahepatic bile duct (aOR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.41-2.57), pancreas (aOR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.09-1.40), and anus (aOR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.42-2.73); nonmelanoma nonepithelial skin cancer (aOR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.15-2.04); myelodysplastic syndrome (aOR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.33-1.83); and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (aOR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.34-1.84). Specific skin cancers associated with HCV were Merkel cell carcinoma (aOR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.30-2.85) and appendageal skin cancers (aOR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.29-3.16). Inverse associations were observed with uterine cancer (aOR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.51-0.80) and prostate cancer (aOR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.66-0.82). Associations were maintained in sensitivity analyses conducted among individuals without documented alcohol abuse, cirrhosis, or hepatitis B or human immunodeficiency virus infections and after adjustment for socioeconomic status. Associations of HCV with other cancers were not observed.

CONCLUSIONS

HCV is associated with increased risk of cancers other than HCC in the US elderly population, notably bile duct cancers and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. These results support a possible etiologic role for HCV in an expanded group of cancers. Cancer 2017;123:1202-1211. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Diabetes, Abnormal Glucose, Dyslipidemia, Hypertension, and Risk of Inflammatory and Other Breast Cancer

Background: Obesity has been associated with substantially higher risk of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) than other breast cancer. Here, we assess whether comorbidities of obesity, namely diabetes, abnormal glucose, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, are differentially related to risk of IBC and other breast cancers by tumor stage at diagnosis (localized/regional/distant/unstaged).Methods: We used linked SEER-Medicare data, with female breast cancer cases ages 66+ years identified by SEER registries (years 1992-2011). We divided first breast cancers into IBC (N = 2,306), locally advanced non-IBC (LABC; N = 10,347), and other (N = 197,276). We selected female controls (N = 200,000) from a stratified 5% random sample of Medicare recipients alive and breast cancer free. We assessed exposures until 12 months before diagnosis/selection using Medicare claims data. We estimated odds ratios (OR) and 99.9% confidence intervals (CI) using unconditional logistic regression.Results: Diabetes was associated with increased risk of distant IBC (98.5% of IBC cases; OR 1.44; 99.9% CI 1.21-1.71), distant (OR 1.24; 99.9% CI, 1.09-1.40) and regional (OR 1.29 (99.9% CI, 1.14-1.45) LABC, and distant (OR 1.23; 99.9% CI, 1.10-1.39) and unstaged (OR 1.32; 99.9% CI, 1.18-1.47) other breast cancers. Dyslipidemia was associated with reduced risk of IBC (OR 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67-0.94) and other breast cancers except localized disease. Results were similar by tumor estrogen receptor status. Abnormal glucose levels and hypertension had little association with risk of any tumor type.Conclusions: Associations with diabetes and dyslipidemia were similar for distant stage IBC and other advanced tumors.Impact: If confirmed, such findings could suggest avenues for prevention. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(6); 862-8. ©2017 AACR.

Evolving epidemiology of HIV-associated malignancies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to describe the epidemiology of cancers that occur at an elevated rate among people with HIV infection in the current treatment era, including discussion of the cause of these cancers, as well as changes in cancer incidence and burden over time.

RECENT FINDINGS

Rates of Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and cervical cancer have declined sharply in developed countries during the highly active antiretroviral therapy era, but remain elevated 800-fold, 10-fold and four-fold, respectively, compared with the general population. Most studies have reported significant increases in liver cancer rates and decreases in lung cancer over time. Although some studies have reported significant increases in anal cancer rates and declines in Hodgkin lymphoma rates, others have shown stable incidence. Declining mortality among HIV-infected individuals has resulted in the growth and aging of the HIV-infected population, causing an increase in the number of non-AIDS-defining cancers diagnosed each year in HIV-infected people.

SUMMARY

The epidemiology of cancer among HIV-infected people has evolved since the beginning of the HIV epidemic with particularly marked changes since the introduction of modern treatment. Public health interventions aimed at prevention and early detection of cancer among HIV-infected people are needed.

Cancer risk among lung transplant recipients with cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies demonstrated increased digestive tract cancers among individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF), particularly among lung transplant recipients. We describe cancer incidence among CF and non-CF lung recipients.

METHODS

We used data from the US transplant registry and 16 cancer registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) compared cancer incidence to the general population, and competing risk methods were used for the cumulative incidence of colorectal cancer.

RESULTS

We evaluated 10,179 lung recipients (1681 with CF). Risk was more strongly increased in CF recipients than non-CF recipients for overall cancer (SIR 9.9 vs. 2.7) and multiple cancers including colorectal cancer (24.2 vs. 1.7), esophageal cancer (56.3 vs. 1.3), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (61.8 vs. 9.4). At five years post-transplant, colorectal cancer was diagnosed in 0.3% of CF recipients aged <50 at transplant and 6.4% aged ≥50.

CONCLUSIONS

CF recipients have increased risk for colorectal cancer, suggesting a need for enhanced screening.

Ultraviolet Radiation and Kaposi Sarcoma Incidence in a Nationwide US Cohort of HIV-Infected Men

Background

Although ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is established as both an inducer of herpes simplex virus reactivation and as the primary risk factor for many common skin cancers, its relationship with human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) infection or risk of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is unknown.

Methods

Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for the association between ambient UVR, history of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC; as a biomarker of personal cumulative UVR dose), and incidence of first primary KS in a nationwide US cohort of white and African American male veterans infected with HIV between 1986 and 1996 (prior to the widespread availability of treatment) using Cox regression. All statistical tests were two-sided.

Results

Based on discharge records, there were 422 newly diagnosed KS cases among 17 597 HIV-infected veterans. Cohort members with prior NMSC had a statistically significantly increased risk of KS (HR = 8.64, 95% CI = 6.23 to 11.96) in the total population. Risk of KS was higher for quartile 4 vs 1 among the total population (HR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.02 to 2.16, P_trend UVR quartile [coded 1 to 4] = .02) and among whites (HR = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.11 to 2.78, P_trend = .009), but not among African Americans (HR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.71 to 2.15, P_trend = .23).

Conclusions

KS risk was elevated among HIV-infected men with NMSC diagnosis and in those living in locations with high ambient UVR at time of HIV diagnosis. Our novel findings suggesting that UVR exposure may increase KS risk warrant further investigation.

HLA and Risk of Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma After Solid Organ Transplantation

BACKGROUND

Solid organ transplant recipients have heightened risk for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The role of donor-recipient HLA mismatch and recipient HLA type on DLBCL risk are not well established.

METHODS

We examined 172 231 kidney, heart, pancreas, and lung recipients transplanted in the United States between 1987 and 2010, including 902 with DLBCL. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated using Poisson regression for DLBCL risk in relation to HLA mismatch, types, and zygosity, adjusting for sex, age, race/ethnicity, year, organ, and transplant number.

RESULTS

Compared with recipients who had 2 HLA-DR mismatches, those with zero or 1 mismatch had reduced DLBCL risk, (zero: IRR, 0.76, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.61-0.95; one: IRR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.69-1.00). In stratified analyses, recipients matched at either HLA-A, -B, or -DR had a significantly reduced risk of late-onset (>2 years after transplantation), but not early-onset DLBCL, and there was a trend for decreasing risk with decreasing mismatch across all 3 loci (P = 0.0003). Several individual recipient HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR, and -DQ antigens were also associated with DLBCL risk, including DR13 (IRR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.93) and B38 (IRR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.10-1.93), confirming prior findings that these 2 antigens are associated with risk of infection-associated cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, variation in HLA is related to susceptibility to DLBCL, perhaps reflecting intensity of immunosuppression, control of Epstein-Barr virus infection among transplant recipients or chronic immune stimulation.

Associations between cancer and Alzheimer's disease in a U.S. Medicare population

Several studies have reported bidirectional inverse associations between cancer and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study evaluates these relationships in a Medicare population. Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) linked to Medicare data, 1992-2005, we evaluated cancer risks following AD in a case-control study of 836,947 cancer cases and 142,869 controls as well as AD risk after cancer in 742,809 cancer patients and a non-cancer group of 420,518. We applied unconditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazards ratios (HRs). We also evaluated cancer in relation to automobile injuries as a negative control to explore potential study biases. In the case-control analysis, cancer cases were less likely to have a prior diagnosis of AD than controls (OR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.81-0.92). Cancer cases were also less likely than controls to have prior injuries from automobile accidents to the same degree (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.78-0.88). In the prospective cohort, there was a lower risk observed in cancer survivors, HR = 0.87 (95% CI = 0.84-0.90). In contrast, there was no association between cancer diagnosis and subsequent automobile accident injuries (HR = 1.03; 95% CI = 0.98-1.07). That cancer risks were similarly reduced after both AD and automobile injuries suggest biases against detecting cancer in persons with unrelated medical conditions. The modestly lower AD risk in cancer survivors may reflect underdiagnosis of AD in those with a serious illness. This study does not support a relationship between cancer and AD.

Comparison of Cancer Diagnoses Between the US Solid Organ Transplant Registry and Linked Central Cancer Registries

US transplant centers are required to report cancers in transplant recipients to the transplant network. The accuracy and completeness of these data, collected in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), are unknown. We compared diagnoses in the SRTR and 15 linked cancer registries for colorectal, liver, lung, breast, prostate and kidney cancers; melanoma; and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Among 187 384 transplants, 9323 cancers were documented in the SRTR or cancer registries. Only 36.8% of cancers were in both, with 47.5% and 15.7% of cases additionally documented solely in cancer registries or the SRTR, respectively. Agreement between the SRTR and cancer registries varied (kappa = 0.28 for liver cancer and kappa = 0.52-0.66 for lung, prostate, kidney, colorectum, and breast cancers). Upon evaluation, some NHLs documented only in cancer registries were identified in the SRTR as another type of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Some SRTR-only cases were explained by miscoding (colorectal cancer instead of anal cancer, metastases as lung or liver cancers) or missed matches with cancer registries, partly due to recipients' outmigration from catchment areas. Estimated sensitivity for identifying cancer was 52.5% for the SRTR and 84.3% for cancer registries. In conclusion, SRTR cancer data are substantially incomplete, limiting their usefulness for surveillance and research.

Changes in Clinical Context for Kaposi's Sarcoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Among People With HIV Infection in the United States

PURPOSE

The biology of HIV-associated cancers may differ depending on immunologic and virologic context during development. Therefore, an understanding of the burden of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) relative to antiretroviral therapy (ART), virologic suppression, and CD4 count is important.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

KS and NHL diagnoses during 1996 to 2011 were identified among patients with HIV infection in eight clinical cohorts in the United States. Among patients in routine HIV clinical care, the proportion of cases in categories of ART use, HIV RNA, and CD4 count at diagnosis were described across calendar time. Person-time and incidence rates were calculated for each category.

RESULTS

We identified 466 patients with KS and 258 with NHL. In recent years, KS was more frequently diagnosed after ART initiation (55% in 1996 to 2001 v 76% in 2007 to 2011; P-trend = .02). The proportion of patients with NHL who received ART was higher but stable over time (83% overall; P-trend = .81). An increasing proportion of KS and NHL occurred at higher CD4 counts (P < .05 for KS and NHL) and with undetectable HIV RNA (P < .05 for KS and NHL). In recent years, more person-time was contributed by patients who received ART, had high CD4 counts and had undetectable HIV RNA, whereas incidence rates in these same categories remained stable or declined.

CONCLUSION

Over time, KS and NHL occurred at higher CD4 counts and lower HIV RNA values, and KS occurred more frequently after ART initiation. These changes were driven by an increasing proportion of patients with HIV who received effective ART, had higher CD4 counts, and had suppressed HIV RNA and not by increases in cancer risk within these subgroups. An improved understanding of HIV-associated cancer pathogenesis and outcomes in the context of successful ART is therefore important.

Trends in primary central nervous system lymphoma incidence and survival in the U.S

It is suspected that primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) rates are increasing among immunocompetent people. We estimated PCNSL trends in incidence and survival among immunocompetent persons by excluding cases among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons and transplant recipients. PCNSL data were derived from 10 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registries (1992-2011). HIV-infected cases had reported HIV infection or death due to HIV. Transplant recipient cases were estimated from the Transplant Cancer Match Study. We estimated PCNSL trends overall and among immunocompetent individuals, and survival by HIV status. A total of 4158 PCNSLs were diagnosed (36% HIV-infected; 0·9% transplant recipients). HIV prevalence in PCNSL cases declined from 64·1% (1992-1996) to 12·7% (2007-2011), while the prevalence of transplant recipients remained low. General population PCNSL rates were strongly influenced by immunosuppressed cases, particularly in 20-39 year-old men. Among immunocompetent people, PCNSL rates in men and women aged 65+ years increased significantly (1·7% and 1·6%/year), but remained stable in other age groups. Five-year survival was poor, particularly among HIV-infected cases (9·0%). Among HIV-uninfected cases, 5-year survival increased from 19·1% (1992-1994) to 30·1% (2004-2006). In summary, PCNSL rates have increased among immunocompetent elderly adults, but not in younger individuals. Survival remains poor for both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected PCNSL patients.