Epstein Barr Virus related cancer in people living with HIV: a review of the literature

Abstract

The introduction of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has modified the natural history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, leading to an increase in the life expectancy of the patients living with HIV (PLWH). Similar to other oncogenic viruses, EBV increases the risk of developing cancer in immune-depressed hosts, including HIV-infected people. The adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is important in the management of cancer in HIV-positive patients even if ART has a less favorable impact on EBV related tumors if compared with its impact on AIDS-defining cancers. This review is focused on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management and therapy of EBV-associated tumors in the setting of HIV infection.

Keywords

• ebv
• hiv
• cancer
• tumorigenesis
• burkitt’s lymphoma
• hodgkin’s lymphoma
• non- hodgkin’s lymphoma
• nasopharyngeal carcinoma