title: Imatinib for highly chemoresistant Kaposi sarcoma in a patient with long-term HIV control: a case report and literature review.
abstract: Kaposi sarcoma (ks) is a vascular tumour caused by oncogenic human herpesvirus type 8; it often occurs with hiv-associated immunosuppression. Numerous cellular signalling pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of ks, among which receptor tyrosine kinases such as the c-Kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptors play an important role. Imatinib mesylate, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has resulted in partial regression of ks lesions in one third of treated patients, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we report the case of a white man with recurrent ks despite well-suppressed hiv infection and multiple chemotherapies who received imatinib and showed a complete and sustained tumour response. To our knowledge, this report is the first showing the value of imatinib in the management of ks in the context of long-lasting hiv control with adequate quantitative CD4 recovery. Our case indicates that imatinib can be a treatment option for highly chemoresistant recurrent ks in patients on long-term antiretroviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Chronic Viral Illnesses Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC; ; Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC; ; Department of Infectious Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, PRC;
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Chronic Viral Illnesses Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC; ; Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC;
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vyboh
authors.affiliation: Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; ; Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale ( inserm ), Villejuif, France;
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Routy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbooke, QC.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chababi-Atallah
authors.affiliation: Chronic Viral Illnesses Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC;
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lemire
authors.affiliation: Chronic Viral Illnesses Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC; ; Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC;
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Routy
keywords: Kaposi sarcoma; autophagy; hiv-1; imatinib