Pancreas. 2012 Jun 24.

Pancreatic Cancer in HIV-Positive Patients: A Clinical Case-Control Study.

Zanet E, Berretta M, Di Benedetto F, Talamini R, Ballarin R, Nunnari G, Berretta S, Ridolfo A, Lleshi A, Zanghě A, Cappellani A, Tirelli U.
SourceFrom the *Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Aviano; †Department of Surgery, University of Catania, Catania; ‡Liver and Multivisceral Transplant Centre, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena; §Unit of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Cancer Institute,Aviano; ∥Division of Infectious Diseases, "Garibaldi Nesima" Hospital, University of Catania, Catania; and ¶Division of Infectious Diseases, "L. Sacco" Hospital, University of Milano, Milan, Italy.

Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the fourth and fifth most common cause of cancer-related death among men in United States and in Europe, respectively. No data are available for HIV-positive patients. The aim of this study was to investigate and to compare clinical presentation and outcome between HIV-positive and HIV-negative PC patients.

METHODS: From April 1988 to June 2010, the Italian Cooperative Group on AIDS and Tumors identified 16 cases of HIV-positive PC patients. Each HIV-positive patient from our institution was randomly matched (ratio 1:2) with HIV-negative patients (32 controls) based on sex and year of PC diagnosis. Differences in clinical presentation, treatment, and overall survival were assessed.

RESULTS: At multivariate analysis, HIV-positive patients compared with HIV-negative patients had a higher risk of an unfavorable performance status (PS ≥2) and a younger age (<50 years) at cancer diagnosis. At multivariate analysis, HIV-positive status and PS of 2 or greater were the only 2 features that significantly reduced PC patients' survival.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data show, for the first time, that HIV-positive PC patients, compared with HIV-negative patients, are younger at cancer diagnosis. Furthermore, they share a more unfavorable PS and a shorter survival.


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