The Changing Landscape of Lymphoma Associated with HIV Infection

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cancer remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected individuals, with aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as the most frequent one. However, the introduction of modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) drastically improved treatment options and prognosis in HIV-associated lymphomas. This review summarized the current treatment landscape and future challenges in HIV-positive patients with non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. RECENT FINDINGS: Selecting the appropriate therapy for the individual patient, diffuse-large B cell lymphoma, Burkitt’s lymphoma, and Hodgkin’s disease may be curable diseases. In contrast, the prognosis of plasmablastic lymphoma and primary effusion lymphoma remain poor. New treatment approaches, as targeted therapies or CAR T cell therapy, may broaden the therapeutic armamentarium. SUMMARY: The continuous application of ART is mandatory for successful treatment. The choice of lymphoma therapy may follow the recommendations for HIV-negative patients, but prospective trials in HIV-lymphoma are needed.