Biomaterial Database

Treatment of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. 1991

D W Northfelt, and J O Kahn, and P A Volberding

Division of AIDS Activities/Oncology, San Francisco General Hospital, California.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most common malignancy seen in association with AIDS. Important epidemiologic trends in the occurrence of AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS-KS) have been identified, and the molecular processes associated with the development of KS are being studied intensively. It is hoped that these studies will ultimately lead to an understanding of the etiology of the disease and to a rational approach to therapy. Treatment with conventional chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic therapy, and various local treatment modalities is effective for palliation of clinical problems associated with AIDS-KS, although the toxicities of these approaches may be problematic. Therapy for AIDS-KS must be individualized, with appropriate consideration given to the patient's overall clinical and immunologic status.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000163	Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome	An acquired defect of cellular immunity associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a CD4-positive T-lymphocyte count under 200 cells/microliter or less than 14% of total lymphocytes, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignant neoplasms. Clinical manifestations also include emaciation (wasting) and dementia. These elements reflect criteria for AIDS as defined by the CDC in 1993.	AIDS,Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes,Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Immunodeficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Syndrome, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immunodeficiency
D012514	Sarcoma, Kaposi	A multicentric, malignant neoplastic vascular proliferation characterized by the development of bluish-red cutaneous nodules, usually on the lower extremities, most often on the toes or feet, and slowly increasing in size and number and spreading to more proximal areas. The tumors have endothelium-lined channels and vascular spaces admixed with variably sized aggregates of spindle-shaped cells, and often remain confined to the skin and subcutaneous tissue, but widespread visceral involvement may occur. Kaposi's sarcoma occurs spontaneously in Jewish and Italian males in Europe and the United States. An aggressive variant in young children is endemic in some areas of Africa. A third form occurs in about 0.04% of kidney transplant patients. There is also a high incidence in AIDS patients. (From Dorland, 27th ed & Holland et al., Cancer Medicine, 3d ed, pp2105-7) HHV-8 is the suspected cause.	Kaposi Sarcoma,Kaposi's Sarcoma,Multiple Idiopathic Pigmented Hemangiosarcoma,Kaposis Sarcoma,Sarcoma, Kaposi's