State of the science and future directions for research on HIV and cancer: Summary of a joint workshop sponsored by IARC and NCI

An estimated 38 million people live with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide and are at excess risk for multiple cancer types. Elevated cancer risks in people living with HIV (PLWH) are driven primarily by increased exposure to carcinogens, most notably oncogenic viruses acquired through shared transmission routes, plus acceleration of viral carcinogenesis by HIV-related immunosuppression. In the era of widespread antiretroviral therapy (ART), life expectancy of PLWH has increased, with cancer now a leading cause of co-morbidity and death. Furthermore, the types of cancers occurring among PLWH are shifting over time and vary in their relative burden in different parts of the world. In this context, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) convened a meeting in September 2022 of multinational and multidisciplinary experts to focus on cancer in PLWH. This report summarizes the proceedings, including a review of the state of the science of cancer descriptive epidemiology, etiology, molecular tumor characterization, primary and secondary prevention, treatment disparities and survival in PLWH around the world. A consensus of key research priorities and recommendations in these domains is also presented.

Automated summary

An estimated 38 million people living with HIV (PLWH) worldwide are at increased risk for multiple types of cancer due to exposure to carcinogens and HIV-related immunosuppression. As the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has increased life expectancy, cancer has become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in PLWH. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) convened a meeting to discuss cancer in PLWH, including epidemiology, etiology, tumor characterization, prevention, treatment disparities, and survival. The report provides a summary of the meeting proceedings and key research priorities and recommendations in these areas.