title: Treatment of epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma with a combination of interferon-alpha 2b and etoposide.
abstract: A prospective clinical trial of concomitant interferon-alpha 2b and etoposide was conducted in 24 previously untreated patients with epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma. Eight of 21 evaluable patients (38%) achieved either a complete response (1 patient) or a partial response (7 patients). None of the responders had a prior history of opportunistic infection. Hematologic toxicity was severe, and 8 patients developed an opportunistic infection. The combination of interferon-alpha 2b and etoposide has modest activity, but no additive or synergistic activity was evident in the dose and schedule utilized in this study. The exact role for interferon-alpha in epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma, both as a single agent and in combinations, remains to be determined.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005047:Etoposide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005047:Etoposide