Skin Cancers in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver

Combination antiretroviral therapy has reduced HIV-related morbidity and mortality while contributing to a rising burden of chronic conditions, including cancer. This study evaluated the incidence of skin malignancies among people living with HIV (PLWH) compared with HIV-uninfected individuals (HUPs). Between April 2023 and April 2025, participants underwent skin cancer screening, with suspicious lesions excised and examined histologically.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Pathogenic Mechanisms of Immunosuppression

Article Skin Cancers in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection Giulia Ciccarese 1, *, Liberato Roberto Cecchino 2, Fedele Lembo 2, Sergio Ferrara 3, Chiara Grillo 3, Cristina Pizzulli 4, Piergiorgio Di Tullio 5, Paolo Romita 6, Caterina Foti 6, Francesca Sanguedolce 4, Domenico Parisi 2, Francesco Drago 7, Aurelio Portincasa 2 and Sergio Lo Caputo 3 Academic Editor: Alexander C. Katoulis Received: 16 August 2025 Revised: 9 September 2025 Accepted: 11 September 2025 Published: 12 September 2025 Citation: Ciccarese, G.; Cecchino, L.R.; Lembo, F.; Ferrara, S.; Grillo, C.; Pizzulli, C.; Di Tullio, P.; Romita, P.; Foti, C.; Sanguedolce, F.; et al. Skin Cancersin People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection. J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14, 6447 . [https://doi.org/10.3390/](https://doi.org/10.3390/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.3390/)jcm14186447 Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://creativecommons.org/](https://creativecommons.org/)[ ](https://creativecommons.org/)[licenses/by/4.0/](licenses/by/4.0/)) . 1 Dermatology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale L. Pinto, 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy 2 Unit of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Ospedali Riuniti di Foggia and University of Foggia, Viale L. Pinto, 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy; [liberato.cecchino@unifg.it](liberato.cecchino@unifg.it) (L.R.C.); [fedele.lembo@unifg.it](fedele.lembo@unifg.it) (F.L.); [domenico.parisi@unifg.it](domenico.parisi@unifg.it) (D.P.); [aurelio.portincasa@unifg.it](aurelio.portincasa@unifg.it) (A.P.) 3 Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale L. Pinto, 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy; sergio.ferrara@ospedaliriunitifoggia.it (S.F.); [chiaragrillo.infettivi@gmail.com](chiaragrillo.infettivi@gmail.com) (C.G.); [sergio.locaputo@unifg.it](sergio.locaputo@unifg.it) (S.L.C.) 4 Unit of Pathology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia—University Hospital “Policlinico Riuniti”, Viale L. Pinto, 71122 Foggia, Italy; cristina.pizzulli@unifg.it (C.P.); [francesca.sanguedolce@unifg.it](francesca.sanguedolce@unifg.it) (F.S.) 5 Unit of Medical Oncology and Biomolecular Therapy, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale L. Pinto, 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy; [pgfg@libero.it](pgfg@libero.it) 6 Section of Dermatology, Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Jonian Area, University Aldo Moro of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare, 11, 70124 Bari, Italy; paolo.romita@uniba.it (P.R.); [caterina.foti@uniba.it](caterina.foti@uniba.it) (C.F.) 7 Section of Dermatology, Casa di cura Villa Montallegro, Via Monte Zovetto, 16145 Genoa, Italy; [francescodrago007@gmail.com](francescodrago007@gmail.com) * Correspondence: [giulia.ciccarese@unifg.it](giulia.ciccarese@unifg.it); Tel.: +39-08-8173-2205 Abstract Background/Objectives: The advent of combination antiretroviral therapy has led to significant reductions in HIV-related morbidity and mortality and, conversely, an increasing incidence of chronic diseases, such as cancer. This study aimed to assess the incidence of skin malignancies in a cohort of people living with HIV (PLWH) compared to HIVuninfected individuals (HUPs) . Methods: Between April 2023 and April 2025, PLWHattending the Infectious Disease Unit at Policlinico of Foggia, Italy, were invited for skin cancer screening (cases) . During the same period, patients visiting the Dermatology Unit were asked to undergo skin cancer screening and a rapid HIV test. Those who tested negative were included as controls. Suspicious lesions were surgically excised at the Plastic Surgery University Unit and examined by a dermatopathologist. Results: We enrolled 9

FAQs

What was the study designed to assess?

To assess the incidence of skin malignancies in a cohort of people living with HIV compared with HIV-uninfected individuals.

How were participants selected and evaluated?

PLWH attending the Infectious Disease Unit and controls visiting the Dermatology Unit underwent skin cancer screening; those negative on a rapid HIV test were included as controls, and suspicious lesions were surgically excised and examined.

What skin cancer patterns were observed between PLWH and HUPs?

Precancerous and cancerous lesions were detected at similar rates in both groups, while the total number of precancerous and cancerous lesions was higher in PLWH; basal cell carcinoma was the most common in both, and several other tumors were found only in PLWH.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver