AIDS associated malignancies

There is a markedly increased risk of Kaposi's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and invasive cervical cancer during the course of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Therapy for these acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) defining illnesses first involves anti-retroviral therapy to suppress HIV viremia and maintain CD4 counts. Subsequent chemotherapy is complicated by the underlying immunoparesis and options in the management of all three diseases are discussed herein. Improved understanding of their aetiopathogenesis will hopefully delineate new therapeutic options and strategies to control viral replication and virally induced diseases including malignancy.