Treatments of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma

• Published in: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology 2005-03, Vol.53 (3), p.253-265
• Main Authors: Aversa, Savina Maria Lucia, Cattelan, Anna Maria, Salvagno, Luigi, Crivellari, Gino, Banna, Giuseppe, Trevenzoli, Marco, Chiarion-Sileni, Vanna, Monfardini, Silvio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - complications; AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma; Algorithms; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Disease Management; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Kaposi's sarcoma; Medical sciences; Sarcoma, Kaposi - etiology; Sarcoma, Kaposi - therapy; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
• ISSN: 1040-8428; 1879-0461
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2004.10.009

Although Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) has decreased in countries where the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen is available, however it remains, after non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, the most common malignancy in HIV+ patients. Advances in the treatment of AIDS-KS have been achieved, even though a gold standard therapy has not been yet defined. With the availability of HAART, a dramatic KS clinical response has been documented, making HAART essential in all patients. In case of aggressive and/or life threatening KS, more complex therapeutic schedules have to be taken into account, including chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy. Liposomal anthracyclines and paclitaxel have been approved by FDA as first line and second line mono-therapy, respectively. Interferon-alpha (INF-α) is the only immunomodulant agent to have shown a therapeutic effect. Among the new drugs, many antiangiogenetic agents have produced encouraging responses. Finally, the identification of the HHV-8 as a causative agent and new metalloproteinase inhibitors may offer promising targets for the KS treatment.