ABSTRACT
People living nowadays with HIV and AIDS may be treated effectively regarding virus replication and immunology. However, non-AIDS-defining cancer is of growing relevance due to high incidence and unfavorable outcome. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge on gastrointestinal (GI) carcinoma. Although literature on GI cancer is rare, an increased incidence of esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatocellular, and colorectal carcinoma has been demonstrated. However, there are only few reports on therapy strategies and outcome, so that, despite increased occurrence of many GI carcinomas, only little is known about individualized treatment options and outcome in HIV-positive patients. More efforts have to be undertaken to close this gap.
Subject(s)
Anti-Retroviral Agents/administration & dosage , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/drug therapy , HIV Infections/diagnosis , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Drug Therapy, Combination/methods , Drug Therapy, Combination/standards , Evidence-Based Medicine , Gastrointestinal Neoplasms/etiology , HIV Infections/etiology , Humans , Medical Oncology/standards , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Introduction Anal carcinoma represents an increasing problem in HIV-infected patients. Anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN), the precursor lesion, is currently diagnosed by high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) using optical magnification derived from gynecological colposcopy. This prospective study evaluates anal chromoendoscopy (ACE) using standard gastroenterological video-endoscopes in diagnosing AIN. Methods After clinical examination, proctoscopy and surface staining with acetic acid followed by Lugol's solution, ACE was performed with a mucosectomy cap on the tip of the endoscope. Biopsy specimens were collected from areas with a pathological staining pattern and from areas with normal appearance; combined results were considered as reference. Results Two hundred eleven HIV-positive patients seen between 2007 and 2013 were evaluated. Of these, 95.7â% were males, and the median age was 45 years. In 86.7â%, the mode of HIV transmission was sex among males. Combination antiretroviral treatment was applied in 75.8â%. The sensitivity of ACE in diagnosing AIN was 0.85, the specificity was 0.55, the positive predictive value was 0.50, and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 0.87. Diagnostic performance increased in individuals with high-grade lesions (NPV: 0.99) and in the second study period from 2011 to 2013. Side effects were rare and of minor clinical relevance. Conclusions Anal chromoendoscopy is safe and effective in diagnosing AIN in a population of HIV-infected patients. It is particularly useful for the exclusion of high-grade lesions that have the strongest risk of progression to anal carcinoma. Therefore, ACE may become a valuable new tool to manage AIN and to prevent anal malignancy in HIV-positive patients.
