Lack of tumors in infants with perinatal HIV-1 exposure and fetal/neonatal exposure to zidovudine

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1999 Apr 15;20(5):463-7. doi: 10.1097/00042560-199904150-00008.

Abstract

Zidovudine (ZDV) therapy during pregnancy and to the neonate reduced perinatal HIV transmission by nearly 70% in Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group (PACTG) protocol 076. ZDV has been reported as positive in several in vitro carcinogenicity screening tests. We evaluated the short-term risk for tumors in 727 children with known ZDV exposure enrolled into the PACTG 076/219 and the Women and Infants Transmission Study (WITS). ZDV exposure in utero (antepartum) occurred in 97% and 99% of infants in PACTG 076/219 or WITS, respectively. Mean follow-up was 38.3 months with 366.9 person years follow-up for PACTG 076/219 and 14.5 months with 743.7 person years follow-up for WITS. No tumors of any nature were observed; relative risk was 0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0-17.6). These data are reassuring regarding the short-term lack of tumors for ZDV-exposed infants observed to date. Longitudinal, standardized follow-up for infants with in utero antiretroviral exposure is necessary to assess long-term carcinogenicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / physiopathology*
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • HIV-1*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Perinatal Care
  • Pregnancy
  • Prospective Studies
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Zidovudine / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  • Zidovudine