Biomaterial Database

Kaposi's sarcoma in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. 1988

R T Mitsuyasu

Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine.

Kaposi's sarcoma is the most common malignancy seen in association with AIDS. Although the pathogenesis of AIDS-KS has not been clearly established, the clinical course and prognosis are closely related to the patient's immune status, prior history of opportunistic infection, and hematologic status. Treatment methods include local or regional radiation therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and interferon therapy. Evaluation of the results of clinical therapeutic studies in this tumor should consider its natural history and peculiar biologic behavior and associated complications of AIDS. Effective treatment strategy would take into account the immune status of the patient, the rate of progression of tumor, the presence or risk of developing life-threatening opportunistic infections, associated hematologic or neurologic abnormalities, the toxicities of treatment, and the desire of the patient for treatment. Investigations of antiviral, antiproliferative, and immunomodulating agents singly or in combination currently are in progress. Additionally innovative approaches with biologic response modifies, adjunctive hematopoietins, and growth factor modulators may lead to newer approaches to the control of this malignancy.

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