Minimum standard of care defined for HIV patients with cancer

An international panel convened by WHO has drawn up draft guidelines for a minimum standard of care for patients with the most common HIV-associated cancers in Africa. These are Kaposi's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva. Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are responsive to treatment but they are not curable. The only realistic public health approach to them is palliative care. The guidelines for this include advice on human resources, infrastructure, clinical management, quality of life, and antiretroviral therapy. For further information contact Dr Cecilia Supulveda (sepulveda@who.int).