Abstract
HIV-infected smokers are at relatively higher risk of cancer than HIV-infected non-smokers. HIV weakens the immune system and renders infected individuals more vulnerable to the carcinogenic effects of smoking. HIV-infected smokers suffer more aggressive forms of cancers than do non-smokers because of the cumulative effects of the virus and cigarette smoke carcinogens. The major types of cancer observed in HIV-infected smokers are lung, head and neck, esophageal, anal, and cervical cancers. In this review, we will discuss the recent advances in cancer outcomes, primarily in terms of cancer incidence, prevalence, and progression in HIV patients who are smokers.
Highlights
About 1.2 million people are currently suffering from HIV/AIDS in the US
The decrease in HIV-related deaths can be attributed to the advancements in combination antiretroviral therapy. cART has elongated the life spans of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs)
HIV weakens the immune system of infected patients and makes them vulnerable to cancer-associated viruses such as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), and human papillomavirus (HPV)[3,4]
Summary
Faculty Reviews are review articles written by the prestigious Members of Faculty Opinions. The articles are commissioned and peer reviewed before publication to ensure that the final, published version is comprehensive and accessible. The reviewers who approved the final version are listed with their names and affiliations
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