Invasive cervical cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Prevalence of HPV types in HIV-positive and negative females with normal cervical cytology or dysplasia

The burden of HPV varies by country and HIV status. The study aimed to evaluate HPV types prevalent in HIV-positive females compared with HIV-negative females in the local population of the federal capital territory in Pakistan.

METHOD

The selected female population consisted of 65 already diagnosed HIV-positive females and 135 HIV-negative females. Cervical scrap was collected and analyzed for HPV and cytology.

RESULTS

The prevalence of HPV in HIV-positive patients was 36.9%, higher than HIV-negative patients (4.4%). 12.30% had cervical cytology interpreted as "LSIL" and 87.69% had cytology interpreted as "NIL." The high-risk type was detected in 15.39% while 21.54% showed low-risk HPV types. Among the high-risk types, HPV18 (6.15%), HPV16 (4.62%), HPV45 (3.07%), HPV33 (1.53%), HPV58 (3.07%), and HPV68 (1.53%) were found. In patients with LSIL, high-risk HPV accounts for 62.5%. Risk factors, such as age, marital status, educational status, residence, parity, other STDs, and contraceptives, were analyzed to find the correlation with HPV infection Age ≤35 years (OR 1.21, 95% CI, 0.44-3.34), illiterate and incomplete secondary education (OR 1.08, 95% CI, 0.37-3.15), and those reported not to use contraceptives (OR: 1.90; 95% CI: 0.67-5.42) have an association for increased risk of HPV infection.

CONCLUSION

HPV18, HPV16, HPV58, HPV45, HPV68, and HPV33 were identified among high-risk HPV types. High-risk HPV was detected in 62.5% of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. The data is useful for health policymakers to develop a strategy for HPV screening and prophylactic vaccination to prevent cervical cancer.

Human immune deficiency virus among cervical cancer patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia: a cross sectional study

Background

The discrepancy in cervical cancer incidence between women with HIV and women without HIV is highest in low and middle-income countries. In Africa, cervical cancer is the most common cause of cancer death. As a result, HIV-infected women are 6 times more likely to develop cervical cancer than uninfected women. In addition, HIV is associated with several triggering factors for cervical cancer, including multiple sexual partners, early sexual debut, economic status and substance use.

Objective

To assess the prevalence and associated factors of HIV among cervical cancer patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted among 1057 cervical cancer patients registered from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018 at Oncology Center of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital. A structured English version checklist was used to collect the data from patient charts. The pre coded data were entered in to EPI-data version 3.1 then exported to STATA version 14.0 for analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable regression analysis were carried out. Variables with p value < 0.05 in multivariable logistic regression were consider as significant predictors of the outcome variable.

Result

The prevalence of HIV among cervical cancer patients was 18.35%. HIV among cervical cancer patients was significantly associated with age group 30–39 [AOR = 2.83; 95%CI (1.27, 6.22)] and 40–49 [AOR = 2.39; 95%CI (1.07, 5.32)], employed [AOR = 2.23; 95%CI (1.46, 3.41)] and substance users [AOR = 3.92; 95%CI (2.04, 6.28)].

Conclusion

This study revealed that about 18% of cervical cancer patients were HIV seropositive. HIV seropositivity was significantly increased with 30–49 age group, employed and substance users. Authors recommended that it is better to screen all HIV seropositive patients for cervical cancer and give greater attention for women with cervical cancer in the age groups of 30–49 years, employed and substance users.

Molecular epidemiology of human papillomavirus among HIV infected women in developing countries: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Although, there is a variable burden of human papillomavirus (HPV) in women infected with HIV in developing countries, there are few studies that attempted to surmise such variable evidences. This review aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of HPV genotype distribution and risk factors contributing to HPV infection among women infected with HIV in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies conducted in developing countries and reported HPV prevalence. We searched electronic databases: PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS, ScienceDirect, Excerpta Medical Database from Elsevier, Web of science, Cumulative Index of Nursing and allied Health Sciences and Google scholar databases to retrieve primary studies published in English language till 11th August 2019. We used random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence of HPV genotypes, and funnel plot to assess publication bias. The registration number of this review study protocol is CRD42019123549.

Results

We included nineteen studies with a total of 8,175 participants in this review. The prevalence of HPV was extremely heterogeneous across the studies (χ²₌ 3782.80, p value < 0.001, I² = 99.6%). The estimated pooled prevalence of all HPV genotypes was 63.0% (95% CI: 48.0–78.0) while the pooled prevalence of high risk and low risk HPV genotypes were 51.0% (95% CI: 38.0–63.0) and 28.0% (95% CI: 12.0–43.0), respectively. The pooled prevalence of HPV genotype 16 was 20%, while genotype 18 and 52 were 15% and 13%, respectively. Different risk factors reported for HPV infection and the frequently reported were low CD4 count below 200 cells/mm³ and high HIV viral load.

Conclusion

The pooled prevalence of HPV among HIV infected women in low- and middle-income countries was considerable and the proportion of high risk HPV genotypes were high when compared with low risk genotypes. Therefore, it is essential for the HPV prevention program to prevent the double burden of HPV and HIV in women.

Cervical cancer in Ethiopia - predictors of advanced stage and prolonged time to diagnosis

Introduction

In Ethiopia, most cervical cancer patients present at advanced cancer stages, long time after they experience first symptoms. We investigated possible predictors of long time spans between symptom onset and pathologic diagnosis (patient intervals). We also aimed to seek out predictors for advanced cancer stage diagnosis.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 1575 cervical cancer patients who were registered at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between September 2008 and September 2012. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to find predictors of long patient intervals. Cumulative odds ordinal logistic regression was used to identify predictors of cancer stage at diagnosis.

Results

Median patient interval was 30 weeks, with the interval substantially longer in patients residing in rural than urban areas. Longer patient intervals were associated with more advanced cancer stages at pathologic diagnosis. HIV-positive women had an almost 1.5 times increased risk of diagnosis at a more advanced stage.

Conclusion

Cervical cancer patients are diagnosed after long time periods leading to advanced stages at diagnosis. Measures to raise awareness about cervical cancer, to increase screening and to shorten the time interval from recognition of symptoms to diagnosis are urgently needed.

INVASIVE CERVICAL CANCER IN IBADAN: SOCIO-SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS, CLINICAL STAGE AT PRESENTATION, HISTOPATHOLOGY DISTRIBUTIONS AND HIV STATUS

Background:

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection persistence is the necessary but not sufficient cause of invasive cervical cancer (ICC). The effects of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) co-infection have been well documented. The purpose of this study was to describe our experience on the clinico-pathological characteristics of patients with cervical cancer and HIV status at a tertiary Hospital in Nigeria.

Materials and Methods:

This was a descriptive study among ICC patients presenting for clinical staging and biopsy for histological diagnosis at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology outpatient theatre of our hospital between January 2009 and February 2011.

Results:

Sixteen (6.8%) of the 248 patients with histologically confirmed ICC in this study were HIV positive. The mean age of all the participants was 55.4 (SD±10.2) years with the HIV positive patients’ younger than the HIV-negative and those that declined HIV testing. Coitarche was at lower age (18 [SD±4.4] vs 22[SD±3.4] years vs 24.5[SD±4.4], respectively). The modal lifetime sexual partners were four, one and two, respectively. Clinically, more HIV positive patients, presented at advanced stage of ≥ 2B. Also, the adenocarcinoma histological variant was slightly more among the HIV positive patients.

Conclusion:

HIV seemed relatively common among ICC patients and they presented at lower ages, at more advanced stages, earlier coitarche and more lifetime sexual partners. The proportion of adenocarcinoma histological types was slightly higher among the HIV positive patients compared with seronegative patients and those with unknown HIV status. Larger studies to substantiate these findings and ICC-HIV causal relationship are required.

Cervical cancer prevention and treatment research in Africa: a systematic review from a public health perspective

BACKGROUND

Women living in Africa experience the highest burden of cervical cancer. Research and investment to improve vaccination, screening, and treatment efforts are critically needed. We systematically reviewed and characterized recent research within a broader public health framework to organize and assess the range of cervical cancer research in Africa.

METHODS

We searched online databases and the Internet for published articles and cervical cancer reports in African countries. Inclusion criteria included publication between 2004 and 2014, cervical cancer-related content pertinent to one of the four public health categories (primary, secondary, tertiary prevention or quality of life), and conducted in or specifically relevant to countries or regions within the African continent. The study design, geographic region/country, focus of research, and key findings were documented for each eligible article and summarized to illustrate the weight and research coverage in each area. Publications with more than one focus (e.g. secondary and tertiary prevention) were categorized by the primary emphasis of the paper. Research specific to HIV-infected women or focused on feasibility issues was delineated within each of the four public health categories.

RESULTS

A total of 380 research articles/reports were included. The majority (54.6 %) of cervical cancer research in Africa focused on secondary prevention (i.e., screening). The number of publication focusing on primary prevention (23.4 %), particularly HPV vaccination, increased significantly in the past decade. Research regarding the treatment of precancerous lesions and invasive cervical cancer is emerging (17.6 %), but infrastructure and feasibility challenges in many countries have impeded efforts to provide and evaluate treatment. Studies assessing aspects of quality of life among women living with cervical cancer are severely limited (4.1 %). Across all categories, 11.3 % of publications focused on cervical cancer among HIV-infected women, while 17.1 % focused on aspects of feasibility for cervical cancer control efforts.

CONCLUSIONS

Cervical cancer research in African countries has increased steadily over the past decade, but more is needed. Tertiary prevention (i.e. treatment of disease with effective medicine) and quality of life of cervical cancer survivors are two severely under-researched areas. Similarly, there are several countries in Africa with little to no research ever conducted on cervical cancer.

The Role of Nuclear Medicine in the Staging and Management of Human Immune Deficiency Virus Infection and Associated Diseases

Human immune deficiency virus (HIV) is a leading cause of death. It attacks the immune system, thereby rendering the infected host susceptible to many HIV-associated infections, malignancies and neurocognitive disorders. The altered immune system affects the way the human host responds to disease, resulting in atypical presentation of these disorders. This presents a diagnostic challenge and the clinician must use all diagnostic avenues available to diagnose and manage these conditions. The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has markedly reduced the mortality associated with HIV infection but has also brought in its wake problems associated with adverse effects or drug interaction and may even modulate some of the HIV-associated disorders to the detriment of the infected human host. Nuclear medicine techniques allow non-invasive visualisation of tissues in the body. By using this principle, pathophysiology in the body can be targeted and the treatment of diseases can be monitored. Being a functional imaging modality, it is able to detect diseases at the molecular level, and thus it has increased our understanding of the immunological changes in the infected host at different stages of the HIV infection. It also detects pathological changes much earlier than conventional imaging based on anatomical changes. This is important in the immunocompromised host as in some of the associated disorders a delay in diagnosis may have dire consequences. Nuclear medicine has played a huge role in the management of many HIV-associated disorders in the past and continues to help in the diagnosis, prognosis, staging, monitoring and assessing the response to treatment of many HIV-associated disorders. As our understanding of the molecular basis of disease increases nuclear medicine is poised to play an even greater role. In this review we highlight the functional basis of the clinicopathological correlation of HIV from a metabolic view and discuss how the use of nuclear medicine techniques, with particular emphasis of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose, may have impact in the setting of HIV. We also provide an overview of the role of nuclear medicine techniques in the management of HIV-associated disorders.

Implementation and Operational Research: Age Distribution and Determinants of Invasive Cervical Cancer in a "Screen-and-Treat" Program Integrated With HIV/AIDS Care in Zambia

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer screening efforts linked to HIV/AIDS care programs are being expanded across sub-Saharan Africa. Evidence on the age distribution and determinants of invasive cervical cancer (ICC) cases detected in such programs is limited.

METHODS

We analyzed program operations data from the Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in Zambia, the largest public sector programs of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined age distribution patterns by HIV serostatus of histologically confirmed ICC cases and used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate independent risk factors for ICC among younger (≤35 years) and older (>35 years) women.

RESULTS

Between January 2006 and April 2010, of 48,626 women undergoing screening, 571 (1.2%) were diagnosed with ICC, including 262 (46%) HIV seropositive (median age: 35 years), 131 (23%) HIV seronegative (median age: 40 years), and 178 (31%) of unknown HIV serostatus (median age: 38 years). Among younger (≤35 years) women, being HIV seropositive was associated with a 4-fold higher risk of ICC [adjusted odds ratio = 4.1 (95% confidence interval: 2.8, 5.9)] than being HIV seronegative. The risk of ICC increased with increasing age among HIV-seronegative women and women with unknown HIV serostatus, but among HIV-seropositive women, the risk peaked around age 35 and nonsignificantly declined with increasing ages. Other factors related to ICC included being married (vs. being unmarried/widowed) in both younger and older women, and with having 2+ (vs. ≤1) lifetime sexual partners among younger women.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV infection seems to have increased the risk of cervical cancer among younger women in Zambia, pointing to the urgent need for expanding targeted screening interventions.

A prospective study of demographic features and quality of life in HIV-positive women with cervical cancer treated at Tygerberg Hospital

Background

Cervical cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) both have a high incidence in South Africa. Cervical cancer treatment of HIV-positive women poses challenges. Treatment-related changes in quality of life (QOL) of such women are important to future treatment protocols.

Aim

To examine demographic data of HIV-negative and HIV-positive women at diagnosis of cervical cancer and describe their changes in QOL as a result of treatment.

Methods and materials

All newly diagnosed patients with cervical cancer at Tygerberg Hospital were approached to participate in the study. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Cervix Cancer Module (QLQ-CX24) were used. General QOL was measured with the EORTC QLQ-C30 and cervical-specific QOL with the QLQ-CX24 questionnaire. The patients completed the questionnaire at diagnosis, on completion of treatment and at 3 months' follow-up.

Results

The study included a total of 221 women of whom 22% were HIV-positive; the latter were younger and of higher educational level than the rest. Mean monthly income and stage distribution was similar between the two groups. HIV-positive patients underwent radiation therapy more commonly than chemoradiation. HIV-positive women showed statistically significantly higher loss to follow-up during the study. HIV-positive women experienced no improvement in insomnia, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, social role or any of the sexual domains. In contrast, HIV-negative women experienced statistically significant improvement in all sexual domains other than sexual/vaginal functioning. The QOL improvement of HIV-negative women was statistically significantly greater than their HIV-positive counterparts in the majority of QOL domains. Global health improved in both groups, with HIV-negative women experiencing greater improvement. HIV-positive women experienced an initial decline of peripheral neuropathy (PN) symptoms post treatment with a return to pretreatment values at 3 months' follow-up. The change in PN was statistically significant between the HIV-negative and HIV-positive women.

Conclusion

Demographic differences exist between the HIV-negative and HIV-positive groups. The differential outcome in the QOL of HIV-positive and HIV-negative women treated for cervical cancer might be related to persistence of AIDS-related symptoms on completion of cervical cancer treatment.

Optimal management of cervical cancer in HIV-positive patients: a systematic review

The clinical management of cervical cancer in HIV-positive patients has challenges mainly due to the concerns on immune status. At present, their mode of management is similar to HIV-seronegative patients involving the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy concurrently as indicated. HIV infection, cancer, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy lower immunity through reduction in CD4 cell counts. At present there are no treatment guidelines for HIV-positive patients. This study was done to systematically review the literature on cervical cancer management in HIV-positive patients and treatment outcomes. A systematic literature search was done in the major databases to identify studies on the management of HIV-positive patients with cervical cancer. Identified studies were assessed for eligibility and inclusion in the review following the guidelines of The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews and CRD's (Centre for Reviews and Dissemination) guidance for undertaking reviews in health care. Eight eligible studies were identified from the literature. Three of them were prospective while five were retrospective studies. Notably, the average age at diagnosis of cervical cancer in HIV-positive patients was a decade lower than in seronegative patients. There was no difference in distribution of stages of disease at presentation between HIV-positive and negative patients. Mild acute toxicity (Grades 1 and 2) was higher in HIV-positive patients than in HIV-negative patients in hematopoietic system. In the grades 3 and 4 reactions, anemia was reported in 4% versus 2% while gastrointestinal reactions were reported in 5% versus 2% respectively. In general, patients who were started early on HAART had higher rates of treatment completion. The study supports the suggestion that HAART should be commenced early at cervical cancer diagnosis in HIV-positive patients diagnosed with cervical cancer to ensure less toxicity and better treatment compliance.

Effect of AIDS on women who have sex-determined health issues

Worldwide, women account for a growing percentage of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and more than half of all HIV infections. For many years, morphologic imaging methods were the main approaches employed to investigate HIV and its complications. However, during the past decade, advancements in PET and SPECT imaging technologies opened new possibilities for improved understanding of the pathophysiological processes in HIV. Diagnosis of early HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) is important, as many of its symptoms can be caused by other conditions common to people with HIV/AIDS. Presently, there are no PET and SPECT tracers or combination of markers for HAND, hence novel HAND-specific tracers are needed if nuclear medicine is to play a role in solving the problem of the HAND "epidemic." As both highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-induced lipoatrophy and cardiovascular diseases are characterized by ongoing inflammation, FDG-PET/CT imaging may represent an important imaging technique for better understanding the metabolic risk in HIV-infected women on HAART. HIV-infected women are at increased risk for the development of human papilloma virus-associated neoplasms such as cervical and anal carcinomas; these aggressive tumors could be treated better with integration of FDG-PET as part of the standard pretreatment workup. A similar value of FDG-PET may be realized in women with HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma, as they have more extensive cutaneous disease than men do. In the era of HAART, the incidence and local invasiveness of breast cancer may change, thus creating a need to redefine the pathophysiology of breast cancer in HIV-positive women. Finally, mammary tuberculosis, occasionally the presenting symptom in HIV-infected women, may present with nonspecific clinical, radiological, and histologic findings. In these women, FDG-PET can be of value to detect the lesion for a representative biopsy, staging to exclude pulmonary and other extrapulmonary lesions, and also for therapy monitoring.

[Cervical cancer: particularities in HIV patients]

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. It represents one of the most challenging public health problems in developing countries. HIV-infected women have a higher risk of cervical cancer which is an AIDS defining cancer. Cervical cancer treatment in HIV-infected and non-infected women is the same. HIV naive women must be prescribed combination antiretroviral therapy at the moment of HIV cancer diagnosis. A close collaboration between oncologist and infectiologist is mandatory to optimize HIV treatment. Among HIV-infected women, PAP-smear screening for early detection and treatment of precancerous cervical lesions is recommended. HPV vaccination is also recommended with the same efficacy and safety profile as the general population.

FDG-PET imaging in HIV infection and tuberculosis

The intersection and syndemic interaction between the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics have global prevalence with devastating morbidity and massive mortality. Using FDG-PET imaging it was shown that in HIV-infected individuals, involvement of the head and neck precedes that of the chest and of the abdomen. The sequence of lymph node involvement observed suggests the existence of a diffusible activation mediator that may be targeted via therapeutic intervention strategies. Furthermore, the degree of FDG uptake proved directly related to viral load and inversely related to CD4 cell count. Available data in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining cancers further suggest that FDG-PET/CT imaging may be useful for prognostication of cervical cancer and for identifying appropriate sites for biopsy, staging, and monitoring lymphoproliferative activity owing to HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma and multicentric Castleman disease. Inversely, in HIV-associated lymphoma, FDG uptake in HIV-involved lymphoid tissue was shown to reduce the specificity of FDG-PET imaging findings, the effect of which in clinical practice warrants further investigation. In the latter setting, knowledge of viremia appears to be essential for FDG-PET image interpretation. Early HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, formerly known as AIDS dementia complex, proved to be characterized by striatal hypermetabolism and progressive HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder or AIDS dementia complex by a decrease in subcortical and cortical metabolism. In lipodystrophic HIV-infected individuals, lipodystrophy proved associated with increased glucose uptake by adipose tissue, likely resulting from the metabolic stress of adipose tissue in response to highly active antiretroviral therapy. Furthermore, ongoing chronic low-grade infection in arteries of HIV-infected individuals could be depicted by FDG-PET/CT imaging. And there is promising data that FDG-PET/CT in HIV may serve as a new marker for the evaluation of thymic function in HIV-infected patients. In the setting of TB, FDG-PET has proven unable to differentiate malignancy from TB in patients presenting with solitary pulmonary nodules, including those suffering from HIV, and thus cannot be used as a tool to reduce futile biopsy or thoracotomy in these patients. In patients presenting with extrapulmonary TB, FDG-PET imaging was found to be significantly more efficient when compared with CT for the identification of more sites of involvement. Thus supporting that FDG-PET/CT can demonstrate lesion extent, serve as guide for biopsy with aspiration for culture, assist surgery planning and contribute to follow-up. Limited available data suggest that quantitative FDG-PET findings may allow for prediction or rapid assessment, at 4 months following treatment instigation, of response to antituberculostatics in TB-infected HIV patients. These results and more recent findings suggest a role for FDG-PET/CT imaging in the evaluation of therapeutic response in TB patients.

Prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of HIV-positive women diagnosed with invasive cancer of the cervix in Kenya

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of invasive cervical cancer (ICC) and assess access to, and outcomes of, treatment for ICC among HIV-infected women in Kisumu, Kenya.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review to identify women diagnosed with ICC between October 2007 and June 2012, and to examine the impact of a change in the referral protocol. Prior to June 2009, all women with ICC were referred to a regional hospital. After this date, women with stage IA1 disease were offered treatment with loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) in-clinic.

RESULTS

Of 4308 women screened, 58 (1.3%) were diagnosed with ICC. The mean age at diagnosis was 34years (range, 22-50years). Fifty-four (93.1%) women had stage IA1 disease, of whom 36 (66.7%) underwent LEEP, 7 (12.9%) had a total abdominal hysterectomy, and 11 (20.4%) had unknown or no treatment. At 6, 12, and 24months after LEEP, 8.0% (2/25), 25.0% (6/24), and 41.2% (7/17) of women had a recurrence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or worse, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Most HIV-positive women diagnosed with ICC through screening had early-stage disease. The introduction of LEEP in-clinic increased access to treatment; however, recurrence was high, indicating the need for continued surveillance.

Infection-related cancers in sub-saharan Africa: a paradigm for cancer prevention and control

There is much commonality between chronic noncommunicable and communicable diseases which is best exemplified by cancers of infectious origin. It provides the perfect opportunity for harnessing the advances that have been made in the control of communicable diseases to attempt the control of noncommunicable diseases. There are possibilities at various levels of intervention, at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, which fit well within a well-planned national cancer control strategy. Prevention should proceed through steps of disruption of transmission, improvement in disease recognition and diagnosis, as well as through prompt effective treatment. This principle should work for both infection and the resultant cancer. Research is very important in understanding how best to use the available knowledge and how best to sequentially implement strategies. Finally, policies that acknowledge infection-related cancers as a major problem in the region should be in place.

Completion of and early response to chemoradiation among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative patients with locally advanced cervical carcinoma in South Africa

BACKGROUND

Very few published studies have dealt with the management of locally advanced cervix carcinoma among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics, radiation and chemotherapy treatments, and outcomes in a cohort of HIV-positive and HIV-negative women with cervical cancer.

METHODS

The authors reviewed the charts of 59 HIV-positive patients and 324 HIV-negative patients who had stage IB1 to IIIB cervical carcinoma and who received radiation therapy. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared at the time of diagnosis; and radiation doses, chemotherapy cycles, and responses were compared at the time of brachytherapy and at 6-week follow-up. Logistic regression models of response to treatment were developed.

RESULTS

Forty-nine HIV-positive patients (88.1%) but only 213 HIV-negative patients (65.7%) presented with stage IIIB disease (P = .009). Forty-seven HIV-positive patients (79.7%) and 291 HIV-negative patients (89.8%) completed the equivalent dose of 68 Grays (Gy) external-beam radiation and high-dose-rate brachytherapy. (P = .03). Of the 333 patients who commenced concurrent chemotherapy, 26 HIV-positive patients (53.1%) and 212 HIV-negative patients (74.6%) completed ≥4 weekly cycles of platinum-based treatment. Follow-up was censured at 6 weeks. In models that included age, disease stage, HIV status, and treatment, a poor response at 6 weeks was associated only with stage IIIB disease (odds ratio, 2.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-3.96) and receiving an equivalent radiation dose in 2-Gy fractions of <68 Gy (OR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.24-7.94).

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-positive patients fared worse than HIV-negative patients because of later presentation and a decreased likelihood of completing treatment. The current findings emphasize the importance of completing irradiation therapy. Further studies will address the association of these variables with survival.

Age at diagnosis of preinvasive and invasive cervical neoplasia in South Africa: HIV-positive versus HIV-negative women

HYPOTHESIS

Human immunodeficiency virus-positive women develop invasive cervical cancer at a significantly earlier age than seronegative women. It is hypothesized that this might result from shorter preinvasive stages.

METHODS

Prospective observational study of histologically diagnosed 398 low-grade (LGSIL), 738 high-grade intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL), and 1048 invasive cancers (IC) in a black South African population. The study comprised of 493 (22.6%) seropositive women and 1691 (77.4%) seronegative women who served as the controls. All were subdivided into 5-years age bands.

RESULTS

The mean age at diagnosis of LGSIL and HGSIL was similar in the cases (t = 0.7; P = 0.49) and the controls (t = 1.2; P = 0.22). The mean age at diagnosis of IC was significantly younger in the HIV-seropositive women than in the HIV-seronegative women (t = 14.0; P < 0.0001). The relative age distribution curves of LGSIL, HGSIL, and IC evolved close to each other in the cases. In the seronegative women, there was an 18-year lag between the peak age distribution of HGSIL and IC.

CONCLUSION

Our data support the hypothesis of a shorter preinvasive stage in HIV-positive women.

Association between invasive cancer of the cervix and HIV-1 infection in Tanzania: the need for dual screening

Background

Cancer of the cervix is the second commonest malignancy in females worldwide and is the leading malignancy among women in Tanzania. Cancer of the cervix has been strongly associated with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which is a sexually transmitted disease. However, the role of HIV-1 in the aetiology of cancer of the cervix is less clear. Studies suggest that HPV and HIV-1 infection are synergistic and therefore their dual occurrence may fuel increased incidence of cancer of the cervix and AIDS. We therefore conducted a study to determine the association between cancer of the cervix and HIV-1.

Methods

The study was carried out in Ocean Road Cancer Institute, Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania between January and March 2007. A hospital-based case control design was used to study 138 cases and 138 controls. The cases were consenting women 18 years and above with histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, while the controls were consenting non-cancer adult women attendants or visitors. The participants were counselled and tested for HIV-1 and interviewed to assess risk factors for cancer of the cervix and HIV-1. Estimation of risk was done by computing odds ratios and confidence intervals. Confounding and interaction between the factors were assessed using logistic regression.

Results

HIV-1 prevalence was much higher among the cases (21.0%) than among the controls (11.6%). In logistic regression, HIV-1 was associated with cancer of the cervix (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.4–5.9). Among the cases the mean age was lower for HIV-1 infected (44.3 years) than HIV-1 uninfected women (54 years, p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

HIV-1 infection is associated with invasive cancer of the cervix. Resource-constrained countries with a high burden of HIV-1 and cervical cancer should adopt a high-risk approach that targets HIV-1 positive women for screening of cervical cancer initially by utilizing HIV/AIDS resources.

The spectrum of human immunodeficiency virus-associated cancers in a South African black population: results from a case-control study, 1995-2004

The effect of the evolving HIV epidemic on cancer has been sparsely documented in Africa. We report results on the risk of cancer associated with HIV-1 infection using data from an ongoing study. A case-control analysis was used to estimate the relative risk (odds ratio, OR) of cancer types known to be AIDS defining: Kaposi's sarcoma (n = 333), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL, n = 223) and cancers of the cervix (n = 1,586), and 11 cancer types possibly associated with HIV infection: Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 154), cancers of other anogenital organs (n = 157), squamous cell cancer of the skin (SCC, n = 70), oral cavity and pharynx (n = 319), liver (n = 83), stomach (n = 142), leukemia (n = 323), melanoma (n = 53), sarcomas other than Kaposi's (n = 93), myeloma (n = 189) and lung cancer (n = 363). The comparison group comprised 3,717 subjects with all other cancer types and 682 subjects with vascular disease. ORs were adjusted for age, sex (except cervical cancer), year of diagnosis, education and number of sexual partners. Significantly increased risks associated with HIV-1 infection were found for HIV/AIDS associated Kaposi's sarcoma (OR = 47.1, 95% CI = 31.9-69.8), NHL (OR = 5.9, 95% CI = 4.3-8.1) and cancer of the cervix (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.3-2.0); Hodgkin's disease (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.0-2.7), cancers of anogenital organs other than the cervix (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.4-3.3) and SCC (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.4-4.9) were also significantly increased. No significant associations were found between HIV and any of the other cancers examined. Risks for HIV-related cancers are consistent with previous studies in Africa, and are lower when compared to those observed in developed countries.

Radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer amongst women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus

Invasive cervical cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are an epidemic in South Africa. Most HIV-infected patients with cervical cancer present with late-stage disease. Whilst the literature describes the outcome of such women with preneoplastic cervical lesions, the management of early-stage invasive cervical cancer and HIV is lacking. We present our experience with such patients.