title: Hypofractionated radiation therapy in the treatment of epidemic Kaposi sarcoma--a prospective randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare a conventional fractionation regimen with a hypofractionated regimen in the treatment of Epidemic Kaposi sarcoma with radiation therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients were randomized to receive a standard regimen of 24 Gy in 12 fractions (ARM A) or the study regimen of 20 Gy in five fractions (ARM B). Radiation technique was individualized. Treatment response, local control and toxicity were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty five sites were treated in ARM A and 30 sites in ARM B. Treatment arms were similar for gender, ECOG performance score, treated site, antiretroviral therapy usage, T stage, I stage and S stage. The overall survival using the Kaplan Meier method was 37% at 1 year. Complete responses were recorded at 28 sites (13 Arm A,15 Arm B), partial responses at 19 sites (8 Arm A,11 Arm B) and stable disease at three sites (2 Arm A,1 Arm B). The mean time to maximum objective response was 3 months (range: 1-14 months). Response rates and local control were equal in the two arms (p=0.73 and 0.77, respectively, log rank test). Acute skin toxicity (p=0.77) and late skin toxicity (p=0.24) were equal in the two arms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The two treatment regimens produced equivalent results for treatment response, local recurrence-free survival and toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, Johannesburg Hospital, South Africa. Niveditha.Singh@wits.ac.za
authors.forename: Niveditha B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Roy H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Lakier
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Donde
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome