Skin cancer in patients who are co-infected with HIV/ HBV or HIV/HCV: a systematic review

Abstract

Skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States, has been well-described in the literature to be associated with environmental factors including ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, the effect of chronic viral infections on risk of skin cancer development, particularly in individuals co-infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B or C Viruses (HBV/HCV), has yet to be elucidated. This systematic review aims to be one of the first to consolidate existing literature and examine the relationship between skin cancer and HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV co-infections. We conducted a systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, searching MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science databases for studies published from inception to March 26, 2024. Inclusion criteria for studies included only those reporting on HBV and/or HCV in people living with HIV (PLWH). Five studies were ultimately included for analysis. The review identified multiple non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) and cutaneous adnexal carcinomas in HIV/HCV or HIV/HBV co-infected patients. Notably, Pilomatrical carcinomas were observed in co-infected individuals. Sarcomas including Kaposi sarcoma and low-grade fibroblastic sarcoma were also linked to HIV/HCV or HIV/HBV infections. However, the studies primarily focused on specific types of cancers without elucidating the underlying mechanisms for the association between HIV/HCV/HBV infection and sarcoma development. In summary, this review suggests a potential link between HIV/HCV and HIV/HBV co-infection and certain types of skin cancer, namely adnexal carcinomas. Further research is crucial to determine the underlying mechanisms, explore the association with different skin cancer types, and identify effective prevention and treatment strategies for co-infected individuals.