Third International Congress Drug Therapy in HIV Infection 3-7 November 1996 Glasgow, UK

UPDATE ON THE TREATMENT OF KAPOSI'S SARCOMA

R.T. Mitsuyasu
UCLA CARE Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Int Cong Drug Therapy HIV 1996 Nov 3-7;3:Abstract No. 8.2
AIDS 1996, Vol. 10 (Suppl. 2);S5

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) was one of the first recognized AIDS-defining diseases and remains a cause of considerable morbidity in many patients. Recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of KS, including its association with a newly discovered KS-associated gamma DNA virus (KSHV or HHV8) and the role of HIV-induced growth factors, suggest potential new means of controlling this tumor. Direct inhibition of KSHV remains elusive but may evolved rapidly once this virus has been isolated and better characterized. Interventions which can inhibit the elaboration, the receptor binding or the effect of KS stimulating growth factors such as sTNFr, sIL-1r, cis-retinoic acids, platelet factor 4 and others may slow or reverse KS cell growth. Alteration of signal transduction pathways or the use of antiangiogenesis compounds including alpha-interferon, which can inhibit basic fibroblast growth factor and which can induce regression of angiogenic lesions, may also prove useful in selected patients. More complete suppression of HIV with combinations of highly active antiretroviral drugs including protease inhibitors, most certainly will also contribute to the control and possible prevention of tumor growth. Nevertheless, in many patients as KS and HIV disease progress, clonal selection and development of clinically aggressive tumors occur and will require cytoreductive therapy with radiation or chemotherapy. Fortunately, the development and recent availability of new chemotherapy drugs such as the liposomal antracyclines, paclitaxel, vinorelbine and camptothecin analogues as well as the now routine use of hematopoietic growth factors and prophylactic antibiotics have made control of even advanced, previously treated and refractory tumors possible. Further research on the pathogenesis and treatment of this tumor will hopefully lead to better and more complete control and perhaps even the prevention of this unusual tumor.

Presenting author: R.T. Mitsuyasu

1996-11-03
8.2

Originally published in AIDS Volume 10, Supplement 2 and hosted with permission of the publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 250 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RD, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7981 0700 Fax: +44 (0) 7981 0701

Copyright © 1996 - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved. All abstracts from the 3rd International Congress Drug Therapy in HIV Infection, appearing on the AEGiS web site, are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, or otherwise published without the prior written permission of Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice. However, provided that you maintain all copyright and other notices contained therein, you may download material (one machine readable copy and one print copy per page) for your personal, non-commercial use only.

http://www.aidsonline.com http://www.ovid.com