Background: Breast cancer in HIV-positive patients has been reported in some retrospective studies and outcomes are mixed. This paper reviews the experience of an urban HIV outpatient clinic serving with patients infected with HIV infection.
Methods: A retrospective study from 2002-2010 was conducted on a total of 2,060 patients with HIV (1361 M, 699 F) who were evaluated and treated in the HIV Outpatient Program clinic at the Medical Center of Louisiana in New Orleans as of March 2010.
Results: A total of 5 patients were identified. Their average age was 45.6, and 100% were African American. Their average CD4 counts before and after diagnosis of breast cancer were 333 cells/mm(3) and 353.3 cells/mL, respectively. The average number of years with HIV infection was 8.8. The average body mass index (BMI) was 24.8. Eighty (80%) were intraductal carcinoma and 20% were inflammatory cancers. The average survival time for all patients was 5.2 years.
Discussion: The frequency of breast cancer in our population is low. We did not find any relationship among immunosuppression, obesity, and development of breast cancer. More studies are needed to elucidate the impact of HIV infection in the biology of breast cancer.