BACKGROUND: Classic Kaposi's sarcoma is a rare tumor with an indolent behavior. Local therapy is not applicable in disseminated cutaneous disease. Patients with advanced disease are usually treated with systemic chemotherapy. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and toxicity of single-agent vinblastine in the treatment of disseminated and recurrent Kaposi's sarcoma. METHODS: Ten patients with wide cutaneous spread of classic Kaposi's sarcoma were treated with single-agent vinblastine, 6 mg/m2 intravenously once every 2 weeks. Vinblastine was continued for 2 months after achieving a maximal response. RESULTS: The male:female ratio was 2.3:1, and median age 64 years (range 50-79 years). The median number of involved nodules in the skin was 34. The overall response rate was 90%, 5 with complete response (50%) and 4 with partial response (40%). Complete responders had a longer duration of response than partial responders: 41.2 vs. 14.8 months. The median survival of all patients was 33 months. Side effects were minimal and tolerable. CONCLUSIONS: Vinblastine is very effective in the treatment of extensive classic 'Kaposi's sarcoma, and results in a high response rate, long survival and disease-free survival with tolerable toxicity.
BACKGROUND:Classic Kaposi's sarcoma is a rare tumor with an indolent behavior. Local therapy is not applicable in disseminated cutaneous disease. Patients with advanced disease are usually treated with systemic chemotherapy. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and toxicity of single-agent vinblastine in the treatment of disseminated and recurrent Kaposi's sarcoma. METHODS: Ten patients with wide cutaneous spread of classic Kaposi's sarcoma were treated with single-agent vinblastine, 6 mg/m2 intravenously once every 2 weeks. Vinblastine was continued for 2 months after achieving a maximal response. RESULTS: The male:female ratio was 2.3:1, and median age 64 years (range 50-79 years). The median number of involved nodules in the skin was 34. The overall response rate was 90%, 5 with complete response (50%) and 4 with partial response (40%). Complete responders had a longer duration of response than partial responders: 41.2 vs. 14.8 months. The median survival of all patients was 33 months. Side effects were minimal and tolerable. CONCLUSIONS:Vinblastine is very effective in the treatment of extensive classic 'Kaposi's sarcoma, and results in a high response rate, long survival and disease-free survival with tolerable toxicity.
Authors: Pasquale Rescigno; Rossella Di Trolio; Carlo Buonerba; Gaia De Fata; Piera Federico; Davide Bosso; Antonella Virtuoso; Michela Izzo; Tania Policastro; Luca Vaccaro; Gianfranco Cimmino; Francesco Perri; Elide Matano; Mario Delfino; Sabino De Placido; Giovannella Palmieri; Giuseppe Di Lorenzo Journal: World J Clin Oncol Date: 2013-05-10