Kaposi Sarcoma (Kaposi's Sarcoma)

A multicentric, malignant neoplastic vascular proliferation characterized by the development of bluish-red cutaneous nodules, usually on the lower extremities, most often on the toes or feet, and slowly increasing in size and number and spreading to more proximal areas. The tumors have endothelium-lined channels and vascular spaces admixed with variably sized aggregates of spindle-shaped cells, and often remain confined to the skin and subcutaneous tissue, but widespread visceral involvement may occur. Kaposi's sarcoma occurs spontaneously in Jewish and Italian males in Europe and the United States. An aggressive variant in young children is endemic in some areas of Africa. A third form occurs in about 0.04% of kidney transplant patients. There is also a high incidence in AIDS patients. (From Dorland, 27th ed & Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, pp2105-7) HHV-8 is the suspected cause.

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Networked: 3383 relevant articles (199 outcomes, 286 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
2.	Neoplasms (Cancer)
3.	Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (Lymphosarcoma)
4.	Lymphoma (Lymphomas)
5.	Melanoma (Melanoma, Malignant)

Experts

1.	Dezube, Bruce J: 29 articles (02/2014 - 01/2002)
2.	Whitby, Denise: 25 articles (11/2015 - 01/2003)
3.	Damania, Blossom: 25 articles (01/2015 - 01/2004)
4.	Bower, Mark: 23 articles (02/2014 - 11/2002)
5.	Schulz, Thomas F: 21 articles (10/2015 - 01/2002)
6.	Krown, Susan E: 20 articles (02/2014 - 01/2002)
7.	Yarchoan, Robert: 19 articles (07/2015 - 03/2002)
8.	Dittmer, Dirk P: 19 articles (11/2014 - 06/2003)
9.	Albini, Adriana: 18 articles (10/2012 - 04/2002)
10.	Cesarman, Ethel: 14 articles (10/2015 - 07/2002)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Kaposi Sarcoma:

1.	Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)FDA LinkGeneric 01/01/2002 - "Strong comparative data have helped to establish PEG-liposomal doxorubicin as the first-line treatment option in patients with advanced Kaposi's sarcoma. " 09/15/1995 - "Monthly i.v. administration of liposomal doxorubicin partially or completely eliminated the clinical manifestations of Kaposi's sarcoma in eight men infected with HIV." 06/01/1994 - "Liposomal doxorubicin is a new treatment option for patients with Kaposi's sarcoma with potentially reduced toxicity. " 05/26/2000 - "Clinical response of Kaposi's sarcoma to liposomal doxorubicin and clearance of HHV-8 viraemia did not correlate well. " 05/26/2000 - "Clearance of human herpesvirus type 8 viraemia in HIV-1-positive patients with Kaposi's sarcoma treated with liposomal doxorubicin. "
2.	Interferon-alpha (Interferon Alfa)FDA Link 07/31/2007 - "Complete clinical and virological remission of refractory HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma with pegylated interferon alpha." 07/01/1990 - "Definition of improved therapeutic regimens of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) for the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) would be useful since currently recommended doses are sometimes associated with unacceptable toxicity. " 11/23/1992 - "From experience with Kaposi's sarcoma, about 20 children with severe forms of haemangiomatous disease have now been treated with alpha-interferon with promising results. " 09/01/1993 - "The drug also appears to enhance the efficacy of interferon-alpha in patients with Kaposi's sarcoma. " 04/01/1985 - "These data suggest that human lymphoblastoid interferon is an active agent in the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma, and its use warrants further study in a larger number of patients."
3.	Paclitaxel (Taxol)FDA LinkGeneric 11/01/2015 - "Efficacy of paclitaxel in the treatment of Kaposi sarcoma." 01/01/2007 - "Clearance of recurrent, classical Kaposi's sarcoma using multiple paclitaxel treatments." 03/01/1998 - "Phase II trial with dose titration of paclitaxel for the therapy of human immunodeficiency virus-associated Kaposi's sarcoma." 11/01/2015 - "The experience suggests that paclitaxel is an effective alternative in the treatment of classical form Kaposi's sarcoma. " 11/01/2015 - "In our center, demographical, clinical and histopathological characteristics of a total of 13 patients diagnosed with Kaposi sarcoma who received therapy were retrospectively recorded based on their medical files Among these subjects, 7 have been treated with paclitaxel and 6 with non-paclitaxel therapies. "
4.	pegylated liposomal doxorubicinIBA 02/01/1998 - "Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin is an effective treatment for HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma with a higher response rate than the BV combination. " 01/01/2009 - "Safety and efficacy of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma." 01/01/2009 - "Among chemotherapeutic agents, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin has become the preferred one for patients with HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma in Western countries. " 08/01/2008 - "Long-term prognosis of HIV-infected patients with Kaposi sarcoma treated with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin." 06/01/2008 - "Activity and safety of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin as first-line therapy in the treatment of non-visceral classic Kaposi's sarcoma: a multicenter study."
5.	InterferonsIBA 01/01/1987 - "In a subset of patients, alpha interferons may have therapeutic potential against a major complication of the syndrome, Kaposi's sarcoma. " 11/01/1993 - "The results of our study support the use of interferon in the therapy of classical Kaposi's sarcoma, although it would appear that to achieve maximum efficacy, a longer period of treatment is needed." 01/01/2012 - "Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) latent oncoprotein viral FLICE (FADD-like interferon converting enzyme)-like inhibitory protein (v-FLIP) or K13, a potent activator of NF-κB, has well-established roles in KSHV latency and oncogenesis. " 09/01/2009 - "Intralesional interferon alpha-2b therapy for adnexal Kaposi sarcoma." 01/01/2007 - "Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus-encoded interferon regulator factors."
6.	Zidovudine (Retrovir)FDA LinkGeneric 05/30/1998 - "Estimating the effect of zidovudine on Kaposi's sarcoma from observational data using a rank preserving structural failure-time model." 11/01/1997 - "Effect of treatment with zidovudine on subsequent incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma." 03/14/1994 - "Risk factors for Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease treated with zidovudine. " 12/01/1990 - "Long-term combined rIFN-alpha-2a and zidovudine therapy for HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma: clinical consequences and side effects." 07/01/1989 - "Patients with epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma, who are often taking zidovudine, may be treated with cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents. "
7.	Vinblastine (Vinblastine Sulfate)FDA Link 04/01/2001 - "Vinblastine is very effective in the treatment of extensive classic 'Kaposi's sarcoma, and results in a high response rate, long survival and disease-free survival with tolerable toxicity." 07/01/1976 - "Vinblastine seems to be an effective treatment for Kaposi sarcoma and, in selected cases, may supplement radiation therapy or be used alone." 12/01/2011 - "[Evaluation of the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma with vinblastine in Togo: a study of 23 cases]." 11/01/1993 - "This study evaluates the effect of intralesional vinblastine on intraoral Kaposi's sarcoma in 24 HIV-positive, homosexual males with 82 lesions. " 04/01/2001 - "Ten patients with wide cutaneous spread of classic Kaposi's sarcoma were treated with single-agent vinblastine, 6 mg/m2 intravenously once every 2 weeks. "
8.	Sirolimus (Rapamycin)FDA Link 09/01/2007 - "Sirolimus (SRL) has been shown to inhibit the growth of tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo and has proven effective in clinical practice for the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma. " 10/01/2008 - "Rapamycin-induced remission of Kaposi's sarcoma is not associated with expansion of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte subsets." 03/01/2007 - "Monitoring antitumor efficacy of rapamycin in Kaposi sarcoma." 11/01/2005 - "Efficacy of conversion to sirolimus in posttransplantation Kaposi's sarcoma." 01/01/2015 - "Classic Kaposi's sarcoma treated with topical rapamycin."
9.	Vincristine (Oncovin)FDA LinkGeneric 05/01/2011 - "It was reported good efficacy of intralesional vincristine for treating nodular lesion in classic Kaposi sarcoma. " 04/01/2010 - "Intralesional vincristine is an effective and safe treatment for nodular lesions in classic Kaposi sarcoma and can be recommended as first-line therapy in initial stages and as support therapy in advanced stages." 12/01/1994 - "Histology confirmed the putative diagnosis of gastrointestinal Kaposi's sarcoma, which responded well to monochemotherapy with vincristine. " 04/01/2010 - "Our aim was to determine the efficacy and safety of intralesional vincristine in the treatment of classic Kaposi sarcoma nodular lesions. " 04/01/2010 - "Intralesional vincristine as first-line therapy for nodular lesions in classic Kaposi sarcoma: a prospective study in 151 patients."
10.	Etoposide (VP 16)FDA LinkGeneric 06/01/2013 - "Oral etoposide as first-line therapy in the treatment of patients with advanced classic Kaposi's sarcoma (CKS): a single-arm trial (oral etoposide in CKS)." 06/01/1988 - "Etoposide for epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma: a phase II study." 01/01/2012 - "Classic Kaposi's sarcoma with colonic involvement: a rare presentation with successful treatment with oral etoposide." 06/01/1988 - "It is concluded that etoposide is inactive in epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma." 06/01/1988 - "Fourteen untreated patients with epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma stages III and IV were treated with etoposide 150 mg/m2 on 3 consecutive days every 4 weeks. "

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Drug Therapy (Chemotherapy) 05/01/2003 - "In HIV patients with Kaposi sarcoma, high activity antiretroviral therapy, associated or not to chemotherapy, induces complete remission in 46% of patients and partial remission in 16%." 11/01/2015 - "Cytotoxic chemotherapy is effective in treating patients with Kaposi Sarcoma, although it is palliative. " 01/01/1990 - "Symptomatic Kaposi sarcoma can be effectively treated with alpha-IFN or chemotherapy." 02/01/2009 - "Chemotherapy was required to achieve remission in the remaining 6. Before the HIV epidemic, this hospital treated one patient with Kaposi sarcoma every 4 years; the incidence has now increased to 2 patients per year. " 03/01/1990 - "Pilot studies were conducted to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of two relatively marrow-sparing chemotherapy regimens in the treatment of advanced or progressive epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma. "
2.	Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) 03/01/2002 - "Following the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) has significantly declined in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-positive (HIV-1(+)) individuals and clinical remission is often observed. " 05/01/2012 - "Highly active antiretroviral therapy alone is an effective treatment for lymphadenopathic kaposi sarcoma demonstrated by a clinical and F-18 FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography response." 01/01/2007 - "There are data demonstrating that HAART regimens alone lead to remission of Kaposi's sarcoma. " 07/01/2006 - "Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) there has been a dramatic reduction in the incidence of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) and an improvement in survival. " 11/27/2010 - "These data support future studies evaluating the impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy initiation at higher CD4 cell counts to further reduce Kaposi's sarcoma."
3.	Radiotherapy 11/01/1986 - "It is concluded that radiotherapy is an effective treatment for most forms of Kaposi's sarcoma." 09/01/2005 - "Long-term complete remission of laryngeal Kaposi's sarcoma after palliative radiotherapy." 12/01/1986 - "Radiotherapy has been found effective in the local control of Kaposi's sarcoma with complete relief of symptoms and minimal morbidity." 10/01/2005 - "We conclude that radiotherapy is an efficient treatment for mucous epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma; a dose of 15 Gy may be enough to shrink the tumour and obtain a good palliation of symptoms. " 12/01/1994 - "We conclude that radiotherapy is an efficient treatment for epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma (EKS): doses of 15.2 Gy for oral lesions and 20 Gy for lesions involving conjunctiva, eyelids, lips, hands, feet, penis, and anal region were sufficient to produce shrinkage of the tumour and good palliation of symptoms. "
4.	Transplants (Transplant) 09/15/2010 - "Visceral Kaposi's sarcoma remission after intestinal transplant. " 07/27/1998 - "Detection and subtyping of human herpesvirus-8 in renal transplant patients before and after remission of Kaposi's sarcoma." 11/01/2005 - "Previous studies suggested a high rate of Kaposi's sarcoma in renal transplant patients in Saudi Arabia. " 01/01/2002 - "As several grafts injected with HHV-8 failed to develop Kaposi's sarcoma, we sought to determine whether another cofactor was required and this led us to uncover the ability of HHV-8 and HIV-1 to reciprocally influence each other using both in vitro and in vivo studies. " 12/01/1998 - "This study was designed to determine whether there is serologic or molecular evidence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) activation in renal transplant patients, an immunocompromised population at risk for development of Kaposi's sarcoma. "
5.	Aftercare (After-Treatment) 03/01/1992 - " 1 advanced case with Kaposi's sarcoma and signs of hemorrhage was significantly improved after treatment. " 02/01/2000 - "This is one of the very few instances of a young patient, not infected with the AIDS virus, in whom Kaposi sarcoma developed as a second malignancy after treatment of Hodgkin's disease." 02/01/2000 - "Kaposi sarcoma after treatment of Hodgkin's disease in a young adult non-AIDS patient: case report and review." 11/01/2000 - "Lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma cleared after treatment with etoposide, but the skin lesions recurred after a three-month symptom-free period. " 01/01/2007 - "Three years after treatment with different chemotherapeutic agents for progressive cutaneous Kaposi's Sarcoma with no visceral involvement, he was prescribed Imatinib (200 mg/day for two weeks followed by 400 mg/day) after four weeks of treatment he developed anasarca, further progression of KS and agranulocytosis. "