HIV-Associated Lymphomas: Updates from Pathogenesis to Treatment Strategies

Abstract

HIV-associated lymphoma (HAL) is an aggressive malignancy directly linked to HIV infection and accounts for more than 30% of cancer-related deaths in people living with HIV (PLWH). HAL subtypes, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), Burkitt lymphoma (BL), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), and plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL), exhibit five to ten times higher incidence rates and distinct molecular profiles compared to HIV-negative lymphomas. Pathogenesis involves HIV-driven CD4+ T-cell depletion, chronic B-cell activation, and oncogenic viral coinfection. First-line therapy combines antiretroviral therapy (ART) with chemotherapy, achieving complete remission rates of 60-70% for DLBCL using R-EPOCH and 50-60% for BL with CODOX-M/IVAC. Relapsed/refractory cases show durable responses to CD19- CAR-T therapy; however, only 10% of HAL patients are enrolled in pivotal immunotherapy trials. Severe immunosuppression necessitates PET-CT-guided de-escalation and nanoparticlebased drug delivery systems to minimize toxicity. Emerging strategies include PD-1 inhibitors and broad-spectrum antivirals targeting HIV reservoirs, underscoring the need for precision medicine that integrates tumor genomics and viral dynamics.