title: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related Kaposi's sarcoma: clinical features, staging, and treatment.
abstract: The clinical course of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is highly variable, ranging from minimal stable disease to explosive growth. Although KS is primarily a cutaneous disease, extracutaneous spread is common; the oral cavity, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, lungs, and lymph nodes are often involved. The psychosocial burden associated with KS may be profound. The initial evaluation of a patient with KS consists mainly of a thorough physical examination with special attention paid to those areas typically affected by the disease, the testing of stool for occult blood, and a chest x-ray. Treatment options depend greatly on the tumor (extent of tumor and rate of growth), human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-I) viral load, and host factors (CD4+ T-lymphocyte count and overall medical condition). Limited cutaneous disease may be treated with topical alitretinoin gel, intralesional vinblastine, radiation therapy, laser therapy, or cryotherapy. The high benefit-to-risk ratio of liposomal anthracyclines (daunorubicin and doxorubicin) and paclitaxel have tremendously simplified the management of patients in whom systemic therapy is warranted. Additionally, epidemiologic evidence of a marked decline in new KS since the widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) advocates its use. KS herpes virus/human herpes virus 8 (KSHV/HHV-8), sex hormones, and the processes of angiogenesis and cellular differentiation all serve as targets for pathogenesis-based clinical trials. Virtually all patients with KS can benefit from the many approved and investigational agents developed through years of collaborative translational and clinical research.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Dezube
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids