title: Immunogenicity and safety of seasonal influenza vaccination in patients with classic Kaposi's sarcoma.
abstract: Classic Kaposi's sarcoma (cKS) is a human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8)-associated lympho-angioproliferative tumor typically occurring in the elderly. It is associated with HHV-8-driven perturbed balance of peripheral B-cell subsets, which may have an impact on immune responses to antigenic stimulation. We took advantage of the common practice of cKS patients to undergo seasonal influenza vaccination because of advanced age and analyzed the immunogenicity and safety of licensed trivalent influenza vaccine in 46 cKS patients and 44 matched controls. Licensure criteria for immunogenicity were fulfilled in both groups. Four weeks after vaccination, hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titers against each viral strain contained in the vaccine increased in patients and controls (all P<0.001). Protection against at least one strain was achieved by 96% of cKS and 91% of control subjects. Protection against all strains persisted after 12 weeks, demonstrating a long-lasting response to vaccination. The vaccine was equally well tolerated by patients and controls, as assessed by evaluating solicited local and systemic reactions to the vaccine, and appearance or increase of antinuclear autoantibodies. HHV-8 virological rebound was observed in four cKS patients, but was not accompanied by progression of KS lesions. We conclude that seasonal influenza vaccine given to cKS patients is immunogenic and safe.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cappelletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taddeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dermatological Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dermatological Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellinvia
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Microbiology and Virology, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pregliasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University of Milan, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano (Milano), Italy. Electronic address: silvia.dellabella@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Della Bella
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007125:Immunogenetics; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology; D061214:Patient Safety; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D012621:Seasons; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines