AEGiS-13IAC: HIV-1 and cancer in South Africa.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

HIV-1 and cancer in South Africa.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. TuOrB301)

Sitas F, Pacella-Norman R, Carrara H, Patel M, Ruff P, Bezwoda W, Sur R, Jentsch U, Hale M, Rowji P, Saffer D, Connor M, Bull D, Newton R, Beral V
F. Sitas, Cancer Epidemiology Unit, National Cancer Registry, c/o South Afrian Institute for Medical Research, PO Box 1038, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa, Tel.: +27 11 489 91 71, Fax: +27 11 489 91 52, E-mail: freddys@mail.saimr.wits.ac.za

Sitas F(1), Pacella Norman R(1), Carrara H(1), Patel M(2), Ruff P(2), Bezwoda W(2), Sur R(2), Jentsch U(3), Hale M(3), Rowji P(2), Saffer D(2), Connor M(2), Bull D(4), Newton R(4), Beral V(4).1 Cancer Epidemiology Unit, National Cancer Registry SAIMR, P.O. Box 1038, Johannesburg, 2000.2 Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand,3 SA Institute for Medical Research4 Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, University of Oxford, UK.

BACKGROUND: Despite the high prevalence of infection by the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) in South Africa, information on its association with cancer is sparse. This study was carried out to examine the relation between HIV and a number of cancer types or sites that are common in South Africa.

METHODS: A total of 4883 subjects presenting with a cancer or cardiovascular disease at the three tertiary referral hospitals in Johannesburg, were interviewed and had blood tested for HIV. Odds ratios associated with HIV infection were calculated using unconditional logistic regression models for 16 major cancer types where data was available for 50 or more patients.

RESULTS: In the comparison group, the prevalence of HIV infection was 8.3% in males and 9.1% in females. Significant excess risks associated with HIV infection were found for Kaposi's sarcoma (OR = 21.9, 95% CI = 12.5-38.6), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (OR = 5.0, 95%CI = 2.7-9.5), vulval cancer (OR = 4.8, 95%CI = 1.9-12.2) and cervical cancer (OR = 1.6, 95%CI = 1.1-2.3) but not for any of the other major cancer types examined, including Hodgkin disease, multiple myeloma and lung cancer.

CONCLUSION: In South Africa, HIV infection was associated with significantly increased risks of Kaposi's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and cancers of the cervix and the vulva. The relative risks for Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma associated with HIV infection were substantially lower than those found in the West.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV-1, HIV Infections, Neoplasms, Sarcoma, Kaposi, Prevalence, Cervix Neoplasms, Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin, Logistic Models, HIV Seropositivity, South Africa, Human, Female, Male
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TuOrB301