title: Different impact of anti-retroviral regimen containing protease inhibitors on development of HIV-related Kaposi sarcoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), an AIDS-related malignancy, has dramatically decreased in the Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy (HAART) era. However, KS remains the second most frequent tumor in HIV-infected patients worldwide and has become the most common cancer in the sub-Saharan Africa. Experimental studies have demonstrated a direct anti-neoplastic effect of HAART, and overall of protease inhibitors (PIs), on KS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe five cases of KS in HIV-infected patients on HAART regimen, containing PIs as atazanavir/r (ATV/r), darunavir/r (DRV/r), lopinavir/r (LPV/r) and fosamprenavir (fAMP/r).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical and experimental observations support the hypothesis that PIs may play an important role in prevention and treatment of KS. In our study, the treatment with PIs of recent generation was not protective against the development of KS. Therefore, it could be necessary to re-evaluate the therapeutic effects of PIs and their role in the development and treatment of KS in HIV-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Fifth Unit of Infectious Diseases, "D. Cotugno" Hospital, A.O. Dei Colli, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Aurora
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Carleo
authors.affiliation: Third Unit of Infectious Diseases, "D. Cotugno" Hospital, A.O. Dei Colli, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Unit, "V. Monaldi" Hospital, A.O. Dei Colli, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Giudice
authors.affiliation: Third Unit of Infectious Diseases, "D. Cotugno" Hospital, A.O. Dei Colli, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gargiulo
authors.affiliation: Third Unit of Infectious Diseases, "D. Cotugno" Hospital, A.O. Dei Colli, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parrella
authors.affiliation: Fifth Unit of Infectious Diseases, "D. Cotugno" Hospital, A.O. Dei Colli, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosario
authors.affiliation: Third Unit of Infectious Diseases, "D. Cotugno" Hospital, A.O. Dei Colli, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sangiovanni
authors.affiliation: Third Unit of Infectious Diseases, "D. Cotugno" Hospital, A.O. Dei Colli, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viglietti
authors.affiliation: Fifth Unit of Infectious Diseases, "D. Cotugno" Hospital, A.O. Dei Colli, Naples, Italy esposvin@libero.it.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.affiliation: Third Unit of Infectious Diseases, "D. Cotugno" Hospital, A.O. Dei Colli, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chirianni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors
keywords: AIDS; HAART; HIV; Kaposi's sarcoma; protease inhibitors