Abstract |
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative disease particularly frequent and aggressive in patients with AIDS but occurring also in post-transplant patients or in immunocompetent individuals of certain geographic areas. At least in its early stages, KS behaves as a reactive hyperplastic process mediated by inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factors triggered or exacerbated by human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection. The HIV Tat protein appears to be responsible for the highly aggressive nature of AIDS-KS. Over time, however, KS may evolve into a true sarcoma in association with the expression of oncogenes and/or HHV-8 latency genes endowed with growth and anti-apoptotic properties. HHV-8 infection is also associated with primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), a rare tumor that similarly develops more frequently in the setting of HIV infection. HHV-8 latency genes are likely to contribute to the neoplastic phenotype of PEL cells, whose growth in vivo may require cytokines and factors from the host, or encoded by the virus.
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Authors | B Ensoli, M Stürzl, P Monini |
Journal | Seminars in cancer biology
(Semin Cancer Biol)
Vol. 10
Issue 5
Pg. 367-81
(Oct 2000)
ISSN: 1044-579X [Print] England |
PMID | 11100885
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
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Chemical References |
- Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
- Chemokines
- Cytokines
- Gene Products, tat
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Topics |
- Angiogenesis Inducing Agents
(physiology)
- Cell Division
- Chemokines
(physiology)
- Cytokines
(physiology)
- Gene Products, tat
(physiology)
- Genes, bcl-2
- Herpesvirus 8, Human
(genetics)
- Humans
- Lymphoma, AIDS-Related
(pathology)
- Risk Factors
- Sarcoma, Kaposi
(pathology)
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