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Publications

Journal Article Review Ahead of print

PubMed: 42423516 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2026.2702452

Immune checkpoint inhibitors in people living with HIV and cancer: a Kaplan-meier-derived individual patient data meta-analysis.

Expert Rev Anticancer Ther

Authors: Francisco Cezar Aquino de Moraes, Luis Henrique Rios Moreira Rego, Felipe Alves de Paiva, Gustavo Tadeu Freitas Uchôa Matheus, Rommel Mario Rodríguez Burbano, Mario Hiroyuki Hirata

Affiliations

  • Department of Morphology and Genetics, Federal University of São Paulo, Paulista School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Department of Medicine, State University of Piauí, Teresina, Brazil.
  • Department of Medicine, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil.
  • Department of Medicine, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Brazil.
  • Human Cytogenetics Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil.
  • Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Antiretroviral therapy has enabled people living with HIV (PLWH) to achieve near-normal life expectancy, but non-AIDS-defining cancers are increasingly frequent. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) may be effective in this population, although evidence remains limited because PLWH have often been excluded from trials. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of ICIs in PLWH.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Studies reporting outcomes of PLWH with malignancies treated with ICIs were included. Analyses were performed in R version 4.4.2.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies including 935 patients were analyzed. Compared with people living without HIV, PLWH showed no significant differences in overall survival (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.71-1.08; p = 0.23), progression-free survival (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.89-1.42; p = 0.38), any adverse events (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.52-1.58; p = 0.71), or severe adverse events (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.51-2.10; p = 0.91). In PLWH, the pooled objective response rate was 36%, and disease control rate was 64%.

CONCLUSIONS

ICIs showed comparable efficacy and safety in PLWH and people living without HIV.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero identifier is CRD420251113906.

MeSH

Safety, Neoplasms, Drug-Related Side Effects And Adverse Reactions, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, Hiv