title: Quasi-Complete Response of Classic Kaposi's Sarcoma Treated with Weekly Paclitaxel.
abstract: Classic Kaposi's sarcoma (CKS) is a subtype that traditionally occurs in elderly HIV-negative males of Mediterranean origin. Patients with CKS characteristically present with skin lesions in the distal extremities. Involvement of the viscera is uncommon but may occur in the late stages of the disease. Patients with extensive KS can be treated with systemic chemotherapy. A number of drugs approved for treatment of AIDS-associated KS, especially Paclitaxel, have activity against CKS after failure of prior therapy. We report a patient treated with weekly Paclitaxel, as initial chemotherapy, for CKS presenting with multiple visceral involvement and having a contraindication for Bleomycin. The patient had quasi-complete response after three months of chemotherapy suggesting that weekly Paclitaxel might be effective as a first-line therapy for classical type KS with visceral involvement.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Hassan II University Hospital, P.O. Box 8743, Fès, Morocco.
authors.forename: Zineb
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Benbrahim
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arifi
authors.forename: Hafida
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Benhammane
authors.forename: Kaoutar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inani
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallouj
authors.forename: Meriem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meziane
authors.forename: Fatima Zahra
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Mernissi
authors.forename: Nawfel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mellas
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: El Mesbahi