[HIV protease inhibitors for the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma].

Abstract

A reduced incidence or the regression of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) has been described in HIV-infected patients treated with HIV-protease inhibitors (PI). We have recently demonstrated that PI block the angiogenesis and the development of KS lesions induced experimentally in vivo by the inoculation of angiogenic factors or human primary KS cells. These effects of PI occur at the same drug concentrations in plasma of treated individuals, and they are due to the inhibition of cell invasion and of the activation of matrix metalloprotease-2, an enzyme that is key to angiogenesis and tumor growth and invasion. Since PI also block the production of cytokines involved in KS initiation and maintenance, this anti-inflammatory activity of PI may also contribute to the anti-KS effects observed in treated individuals. Thus, by direct and indirect activities PI can simultaneously block several pathways involved in tumor growth, invasion or metastasis. These data indicate that PI should also be investigated and exploited for the therapy of KS and tumors of different histology occurring in non infected individuals.

• Authors: Gabriella Grosso, Cecilia Sgadari, Giovanni Barillari, Elena Toschi, Ilaria Bacigalupo, Davide Carlei, Clelia Palladino, Sara Baccarini, Laura Malavasi, Gabriele Moracci, Patrizia Leone, Chiara Chiozzini, Paolo Monini, Barbara Ensoli
• Journal: Recenti progressi in medicina (Recenti Prog Med) Vol. 94 Issue 2 Pg. 69-74 (Feb 2003) ISSN: 0034-1193 [Print] Italy
• Vernacular Title: Trattamento del sarcoma di Kaposi mediante gli inibitori della proteasi di HIV.
• PMID: 12908373 (Publication Type: Editorial, English Abstract, Review)

Chemical References

• HIV Protease Inhibitors
• Indinavir
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
• Saquinavir

Topics

• Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
• Enzyme Activation
• HIV Infections (complications, drug therapy)
• HIV Protease Inhibitors (blood, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Indinavir (therapeutic use)
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (metabolism)
• Neovascularization, Pathologic
• Saquinavir (therapeutic use)
• Sarcoma, Kaposi (blood, complications, drug therapy)