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HIV patients

HIV/AIDS Vaccines Study Reveals Increased Risk of Non-Cervical Cancers

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research has shown that people living with HIV/AIDS (PWHA) are at a higher risk of developing non-cervical cancers, particularly anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. A study conducted by Imperial College London found that PWHA are 30.32 times more likely to develop anal cancer, 15.78 times more likely to develop vaginal cancer, 6.99 times more likely to develop vulvar cancer, 6.37 times more likely to develop penile cancer, and 2.74 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer compared to HIV-negative populations. The study also estimated that improving HPV vaccine coverage to 90% could prevent an additional 1987 cancer cases.

Key Takeaways:

  • People living with HIV/AIDS (PWHA) are at a significantly higher risk of developing non-cervical cancers, including anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers.
  • The risk ratio for developing each HPV-related non-cervical cancer was significantly increased in PWHA, with a pooled risk of 30.32 for anal cancer, 15.78 for vaginal cancer, 6.99 for vulvar cancer, 6.37 for penile cancer, and 2.74 for oropharyngeal cancer.
  • Globally, 30% of cancer cases in Africa were attributed to HIV, compared to 5% worldwide.
  • Improving HPV vaccine coverage to 90% could prevent an additional 1987 cancer cases, assuming 50% vaccine efficacy.
  • Integrating HPV vaccination with HIV services in countries with high HIV/HPV coinfection prevalence could minimize disparities in the cancer burden worldwide.
  • Victoria Pilkington and additional authors from Imperial College London conducted this research, which was supported financially by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition.

Statistics:

  • People living with HIV/AIDS (PWHA) are 30.32 times more likely to develop anal cancer (CI 20.54-44.75).
  • PWHA are 15.78 times more likely to develop vaginal cancer (CI 4.62-53.92).
  • PWHA are 6.99 times more likely to develop vulvar cancer (CI 3.37-14.51).
  • PWHA are 6.37 times more likely to develop penile cancer (CI 3.98-10.21).
  • PWHA are 2.74 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer (CI 2.10-3.58).
  • Globally, 30% of cancer cases in Africa were attributed to HIV, compared to 5% worldwide.
  • Improving HPV vaccine coverage to 90% could prevent an additional 1987 cancer cases, assuming 50% vaccine efficacy.

Sources:

  • Global Estimates of the HPV-related, Noncervical Cancer Burden in People With HIV and AIDS and the Potential Effect of Improved HPV Vaccine Coverage in This Population: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis and Modeling Study. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 2025;12(10).
  • NewsRx. New HIV/AIDS Vaccines Study Findings Have Been Reported by Researchers at Imperial College London (Global Estimates of the HPV-related, Noncervical Cancer Burden in People With HIV and AIDS and the Potential Effect of Improved HPV Vaccine ...). AIDS Vaccine Week. October 20, 2025; p 66.

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