title: Radiotherapy in the management of Kaposi's sarcoma: comparison of 8 Gy versus 6 Gy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate prospectively the efficacy of a single fraction of high-dose radiotherapy in patients with Kaposi's sarcoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1994 and 2004, 47 patients with Kaposi's sarcoma were treated at Hacettepe University, Department of Radiation Oncology. Thirteen (28%) patients received chemotherapy before radiotherapy and were referred due to recurrent or progressive disease or intolerance to chemotherapy. All lesions were treated locally with a 2-3-cm safety margin with 4-6-MeV electron beams. Radiotherapy consisted of a single fraction of 8 Gy in the first four years and 6 Gy thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The male:female ratio was 4:1. The median age was 61 years (range 18-87). Eight out of 47 patients (17%) had an underlying immunocompromised state, and one had a previous diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease. Of 203 fields treated, 51 and 152 fields were treated with 8 Gy and 6 Gy, respectively. Overall response rates (RR) at 12 months for 8- and 6 Gy were 93% and 86%, which were not statistically different. However, the difference between complete RRs at 12 months (93% and 60% for 8 Gy and 6 Gy respectively) was significant (p<0.0001). Progression-free survival and reirradiation rates were not significantly different. Side effects were tolerable in all but three patients with grade 2-3 fibrosis and edema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiotherapy is an effective mode of treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma, and a single dose of 8 Gy is more effective in terms of complete RR compared to 6 Gy, though overall response and progression-free survival rates were similar.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. fyildiz@hacettepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ferah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Mine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Genc
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akyurek
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.forename: Enis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozyar
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Selek
authors.forename: I Lale
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Atahan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey