title: Rapamycin-induced remission of Kaposi's sarcoma is not associated with expansion of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte subsets.
abstract: We present a case of post-transplantation Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) successfully treated by conversion to rapamycin. Clinical and histological resolution was observed within 6 months of commencing rapamycin. Also, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) staining in the biopsy samples resolved following rapamycin therapy. Interestingly there was no expansion in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) subsets observed during this period, as might be expected if this remission was due to immune reconstitution following reduction in immunosuppression. These data suggest that the resolution of tumour with rapamycin could be the result of the antiangiogenic, antiproliferative effects of rapamycin.
authors.affiliation: UCL Department of Physiology and Centre for Nephrology , Royal Free and University College Medical School , Rowland Hill Street, London , UK.
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Centre for Inflammatory Disease , Monash University , Melbourne, Victoria , Australia.
authors.forename: Shaun A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology , Royal Free and University College Medical School , Rowland Hill Street.
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Amlot
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, Bart's and the London National Health Service Trust , Royal London Hospital , Whitechapel, London , UK.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sheaff
authors.affiliation: UCL Department of Physiology and Centre for Nephrology , Royal Free and University College Medical School , Rowland Hill Street, London , UK.
authors.forename: Guy H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Neild
keywords: Kaposi's sarcoma; VEGF; cytotoxic T-cells; rapamycin