An overview of the biology and viral pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative disorders in HIV-infected patients.

Immunodeficiency (whether congenital, iatrogenic, or caused by infection) increases the risk of some types of cancer, especially malignancies etiologically linked to DNA tumor viruses, such as herpesviruses and polyomavirus.1-4 Indeed, immunosuppression associated with HIV infection substantially increases the risk of developing Kaposi’s sarcoma and nonHodgkin’s lymphoma. These two malignancies and invasive cervical carcinoma are the only recognized AIDS-defining cancers.5 Hodgkin’s lymphoma was not included as an AIDS-defining illness by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention HIV classification system,5 but data from several studies suggest that the risk of Hodgkin’s lymphoma in persons with HIV infection is increased.6-9