Abstract:
BACKGROUND : The objective of the study was to compare patient characteristics, treatment toxicity and interruptions, and
survival in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and HIV-negative cervical cancer patients receiving radiation as
primary or adjuvant treatment.
METHOD : Demographics, clinical and tumour characteristics, and the outcomes of 51 HIV-positive and 47-HIV negative
consecutive cervical cancer patients were assessed and compared, including co-morbidities, performance status, treatment
type and toxicities, and survival.
RESULTS : HIV-positive women were 13 years younger (p < 0.001), more often had anaemia (p 0.021) and needed pretreatment
blood transfusion (p 0.037) more often than HIV-negative women. Performance status, kidney function, International
Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, histology types and treatment intent and planning did not differ between
the two groups. Treatment interruptions (p 0.004), transfusion during treatment (p 0.012), treatment toxicities (p 0.040) and
average deficit (p 0.021) occurred significantly more in HIV-positive patients. Survival was significantly worse in HIV-positive
women (p 0.029) and was associated with insufficient radiation (p < 0.001) and treatment interruptions (p 0.051).
CONCLUSION : In spite of being younger, the pretreatment correction of anaemia and the prescription of sufficient radiation
dosages, HIV-infected cervical cancer patients experienced poorer survival. Treatment interruption and incomplete radiation
contributed to poor outcomes.
