Radiation therapy for AIDS-related Kaposi's Sarcoma.
Between March 1982 and October 1987, 375 fields in 187 patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's Sarcoma were treated in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF). Field sizes ranging from 2 x 2 cm to total skin received doses of 8 Gy in a single fraction to 15-40 Gy in 5-10 fractions. Seventy-four percent of the patients have died. Response to treatment was achieved in over 90% of treated fields, with a median time to progression of 21 months and an actuarial freedom from relapse at 6 months of 69% (97 patients alive). There was no difference in outcome regardless of the fractionation regimen used. Severe reactions were noted in 17% of treated fields, but this incidence was significantly lower when a single fraction of 8 Gy was used (p less than 0.001). Radiation therapy plays an important palliative role in this devastating disease. This review supports the use of a single 8 Gy fraction for all Kaposi's Sarcoma lesions of the skin. Further data regarding single fraction therapy for lesions of other sites are needed.
Berson
A M
AM
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
Quivey
J M
JM
Harris
J W
JW
Wara
W M
WM
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000328:Adult; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016019:Survival Analysis