Opportunistic cancers in patients with immunodeficiency syndromes

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1987 Dec;111(12):1123-9.

Abstract

Patients with inherited or acquired immunodeficiency disorders are vulnerable to a broad spectrum of opportunistic infectious diseases, but a narrow spectrum of malignancies. These malignancies--B-cell lymphomas, Kaposi's sarcomas, and squamous cell carcinomas--are likely due to failure of immune surveillance to recognize virally transformed target cells. The evidence for this hypothesis is substantial regarding Epstein-Barr virus-induced lymphoproliferative lesions in immunodeficient patients.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / immunology
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / pathology
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / complications*
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / immunology
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / pathology
  • Immunologic Surveillance
  • Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Opportunistic Infections / etiology*
  • Opportunistic Infections / immunology
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / etiology
  • Tumor Virus Infections / etiology