Risk Factors for Acquiring Kaposi's Sarcoma Among HHV-8 Positive Gay Men with AIDS

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a frequent complication of AIDS in gay men. Risk factors for developing this malignancy are uncertain, other than immunosuppression and coinfection with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8).

In the current study, investigators examined factors associated with KS in a cross-sectional analysis of 99 cases among 503 HHV-8 seropositive gay men with AIDS.

Results

	KS was significantly less common in blacks compared to whites and more common in subjects who had completed college or had annual income greater than $30,000.
	KS was less common in cigarette smokers and users of crack cocaine.
	KS was less common in bisexual men compared to men who were exclusively homosexual and inversely associated with number of female partners.
	KS was also less common in men who had received pay for sex.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the authors note, "These cross-sectional associations could be biased by potential differences in relative timing of HHV-8 and HIV infection, a postulated determinant of KS risk."

"Alternatively, our findings may reflect factors protective against KS in individuals infected with HHV-8."

"Future research should focus on identifying practical measures for countering KS that do not increase the risk of other diseases."

Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA.

06/08/05

Reference
E Nawar and others (AIDS Cancer Cohort (ACC) Study Collaborators). Risk factors for Kaposi's sarcoma among HHV-8 seropositive homosexual men with AIDS. International Journal of Cancer 115(2):296-300. June 10, 2005.

Additional Kaposi's Sarcoma Articles

Imatinib Produces Rapid Regression of AIDS-related KS Lesions - 3/21/05

HAART Reduces Rates of Kaposi's Sarcoma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma But Not Other Cancers - 3/18/05

HAART Curbs Kaposi's Sarcoma in AIDS Patients - 3/14/05

Angiogenesis Inhibitor Does Not Help Against Kaposi's Sarcoma - 3/07/05

Therapeutic Response of HIV-1 Subtype C in African Patients Coinfected with either Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Human Herpesvirus 8 - 1/03/05

The Extraordinary Hope of Antiretroviral Therapy in South Africa (Even for Patients with Tuberculosis or Kaposi Sarcoma!) - 1/03/05

Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Inflammation Seen after HAART - 1/03/05

HIV-related Anal Cancer: Has HAART Reduced the Incidence or Improved the Outcome? - 12/10/04

Pathogenesis of Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus - 11/19/04

Major AIDS-defining Cancers Decline in Western Europe - 10/29/04

Thrombotic Complications in Patients Infected with HIV in the HAART Era 10/06/04

The Incidence of Kaposi Sarcoma Among Injection Drug Users with AIDS in the US 10/06/04

Seroprevalence of Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) Infection in Northern Thailand  - 09/27/04

HAART Alone Is Not Enough to Produce Tumor Regression in Most Cases of Moderate-Advanced Kaposi's Sarcoma 08/11/04

Scientists Discover Kaposi Sarcoma Cell Origin 06/30/04

HAART May Reduce Shedding of Kaposi's Sarcoma-related Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8) in HIV Positive Men 03/19/04

Initiation of HAART Before Development of KS Does Not Influence the Natural History of Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) and 3-Year Survival Rate 12/05/03

Kaposi's Sarcoma in HIV patients: Response to Antiretroviral Treatment and Chemotherapy 11/07/03

PI- and NNRTI-based HAART Regimens Are Equally Effective in Protecting Against Kaposi's Sarcoma 07/28/03

Kaposi Sarcoma and Lymphoma Risk Linked to CD4+ Count at AIDS Onset 05/14/03

Is the ACTG Staging System for AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma Still Relevant in the HAART Era? 03/12/03

9-Cis-Retinoic Acid Yields Durable Response in Kaposi's Sarcoma 03/07/03

Cidofovir Ineffective Against Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus - 01/10/03

Liposomal Tretinoin Shows Some Activity Against AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma 01/03/03

HAART May Lead to Regression of HIV-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma 01/03/03

HAART May Help Natural Killer Cells Control Kaposi's Sarcoma 12/02/02

HHV-8 Load Differentiates Kaposi Sarcoma from Castleman's Disease in HIV Patients
10/28/02

Oral Etoposide Effective for Refractory or Relapsed Kaposi's Sarcoma 08/16/02

Desferrioxamine Stimulates Growth of Kaposi's Sarcoma 07/31/02

Paclitaxel Effective for Advanced AIDS-Related Kaposi Sarcoma 07/24/02

Herpesvirus Cytokine Spurs Inflammation in Kaposi's Sarcoma 06/05/02

Link to Index of All HIV and AIDS Articles by Topic