Bevacizumab plus irinotecan-, fluorouracil-, and leucovorin-based chemotherapy with concomitant HAART in an HIV-positive patient with metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND

In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), malignancies are the primary cause of increased mortality in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, hence representing a new challenge for oncologists. To date, there is little evidence in the English literature about chemotherapy treatment in HIV-positive patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

CASE REPORT

We describe the case of an HIV-positive 48-year-old male patient with metastatic colorectal cancer, treated with a bevacizumab, irinotecan, fluorouracil, and leucovorin regimen, with concomitant HAART. No opportunistic infections and grade 3-4 haematological and non-haematological toxicity were reported. The HIV infection was kept under control during the bevacizumab chemotherapy treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

This case suggests that, in the HAART era, the best multidisciplinary approaches can be offered to HIV-positive patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, who have a good performance status and a well controlled HIV infection. An HIV infection should not preclude the use of the best available chemotherapy treatment in this particular group of patients, including targeted/biological drugs.