Microenvironment and HIV-related lymphomagenesis

Patients with HIV infection are at increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma. While the pathogenesis of these lymphomas is incompletely understood, evidence indicates that immune deregulation, genetic alterations and cytokine production play an important role in HIV lymphomagenesis. The lymphoma microenvironment in this heterogeneous group of lymphomas plays an equally critical role in their development, growth and progression. Important components of the microenvironment in HIV-related lymphomas include EBV and/or HHV-8 coinfection, reactive inflammatory cells, tumor microvasculature, and soluble factors. This paper provides a brief overview of HIV-related lymphomas and focuses on their lymphomagenesis and microenvironment.