Cancer and women living with HIV: results from D:A:D and RESPOND support including cancer screening in routine HIV care

Results from a large international observational study provides important data that should help prioritise early diagnosis and care for different cancers in women living with HIV.

The study included more than 17,500 women living with HIV and more than 141,000 participant years of follow-up (PYFU).

After a median 9.2 (5.5–10.1) years, 832 women were diagnosed with any cancer: an incidence rate of 5.9/1000 PY (95% CI 5.5–6.4) overall, with highest rates of breast, lung and NHL (IR: 1.1, 0.7 and 0.5, respectively).

Higher associations with older age (≥45 vs <45 years), Southern Europe (vs Western Europe) and current smoking with overall cancer risk and lower CD4 nadir and a prior AIDS diagnosis with lung- and HPV-related cancer, suggest priorities for intensified screening.

The researchers conclude that cancer prevention should be routinely included into HIV care forwomen and that their data reinforces the importance of early HIV diagnosissustained viral suppression and smoking cessation efforts inreducing cancer.

Han MW et al on behalf of the D:A:D and RESPOND collaborations. Cancer burden and risk factors among women with HIV: amulti-regional study from the D:A:D and RESPOND cohortcollaborations. eClinical Medicine, January 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103739.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589537025006741