Dr Islam on Treatment of Patients With Hodgkin Lymphoma With or Without HIV

Jessica Yasmine Islam, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, member, Cancer Epidemiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses the treatment of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who do or do not have HIV.

At the 2023 AACR Annual Meeting, Islam presented data from a retrospective study that found among 11,517 patients, those living with HIV were more likely not to receive treatment for their cancer compared with patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who did not have HIV, despite historically similar outcomes between the 2 groups. Specifically, patients with HIV who were 40 years of age or younger, male, non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, resided in areas with lower levels of educational attainment, or resided in low income areas were less likely to receive treatment compared with patients who did not have HIV.

These findings were consistent with previous data regarding about patients with cancer living with HIV, who are 30% less likely to receive cancer treatment compared to their HIV-negative counterparts, Islam begins. Within this study, investigators gathered information on insurance status, stage of diagnosis, and the type of Hodgkin lymphoma, Islam notes, adding that these are important factors to consider when evaluating disparities in treatment. 

To examine the association between HIV status and receipt of cancer treatment, patients were stratified by different social determinants of health to better understand if the specific factors that could affect different populations, Islam continues. These social determinants included county level, education, income, insurance status, and race/ethnicity, Islam notes.

Based on data from this analysis, more work must be done to identify actionable social determinants of health where intervention could help rates of treatment for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who are living with HIV, Islam concludes.