BACKGROUND: Treatment guidelines are lacking for classic Kaposi sarcoma. OBJECTIVE: We sought to review the evidence on efficacy of treatments for classic Kaposi sarcoma. METHODS: Articles published in English or French in MEDLINE, Trip, Cochrane Library, and Pascal databases from 1980 to December 2010 were screened. Studies reporting at least 5 patients treated for histologically confirmed classic Kaposi sarcoma were selected. Primary outcome was a decrease in the number or size of lesions or of lymphedema. We reviewed 26 articles matching the inclusion criteria for methodologic quality, classifying them according to World Health Organization criteria. RESULTS: The percentage of patients with a 50% or greater decrease in lesions was 71% to 100% for pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, 58% to 90% for vinca-alkaloids, 74% to 76% for etoposide, 93% to 100% for taxanes, 100% for gemcitabine, 97% for the combination of vinblastine and bleomycin, 71% to 100% for interferon alfa-2, 43% for thalidomide, and 12% for indinavir. For local treatments, a decrease of 50% or greater was achieved in 62% of lesions for intralesional vincristine, 50% to 90% for intralesional interferon alfa-2, 56% for imiquimod, and 25% for nicotine patches. A complete response was attained in 60% to 93% of lesions with radiotherapy. LIMITATIONS: Eligible trials were of poor quality. The lack of standardized classification of disease activity and clinical outcomes precluded the comparison of studies. CONCLUSION: The evidence for efficacy of any particular intervention is of low quality and does not support recommending any particular therapeutic strategy. Further studies are required and it will be important to standardize the assessment of disease activity and clinical response.
BACKGROUND: Treatment guidelines are lacking for classic Kaposi sarcoma. OBJECTIVE: We sought to review the evidence on efficacy of treatments for classic Kaposi sarcoma. METHODS: Articles published in English or French in MEDLINE, Trip, Cochrane Library, and Pascal databases from 1980 to December 2010 were screened. Studies reporting at least 5 patients treated for histologically confirmed classic Kaposi sarcoma were selected. Primary outcome was a decrease in the number or size of lesions or of lymphedema. We reviewed 26 articles matching the inclusion criteria for methodologic quality, classifying them according to World Health Organization criteria. RESULTS: The percentage of patients with a 50% or greater decrease in lesions was 71% to 100% for pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, 58% to 90% for vinca-alkaloids, 74% to 76% for etoposide, 93% to 100% for taxanes, 100% for gemcitabine, 97% for the combination of vinblastine and bleomycin, 71% to 100% for interferon alfa-2, 43% for thalidomide, and 12% for indinavir. For local treatments, a decrease of 50% or greater was achieved in 62% of lesions for intralesional vincristine, 50% to 90% for intralesional interferon alfa-2, 56% for imiquimod, and 25% for nicotine patches. A complete response was attained in 60% to 93% of lesions with radiotherapy. LIMITATIONS: Eligible trials were of poor quality. The lack of standardized classification of disease activity and clinical outcomes precluded the comparison of studies. CONCLUSION: The evidence for efficacy of any particular intervention is of low quality and does not support recommending any particular therapeutic strategy. Further studies are required and it will be important to standardize the assessment of disease activity and clinical response.
Authors: E Mwinjiwa; P Isaakidis; R Van den Bergh; A D Harries; K D Bezanson; T Beyene; C Thompson; M Joshua; H Akello; M van Lettow Journal: Public Health Action Date: 2013-06-21
Authors: Jeniffer Muñoz Trujillo; Natália Ribeiro de Magalhães Alves; Paula Mota Medeiros; Luna Azulay-Abulafia; Maria de Fátima Guimarães Scotelaro Alves; Alexandre Carlos Gripp Journal: An Bras Dermatol Date: 2015 Nov-Dec Impact factor: 1.896
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
Authors: Anne S Renteria; Vickie A Marshall; Yanyu Sun; Porselvi Chockalingam; Jay S Cooper; Yiwu Huang; Denise Whitby Journal: J Dermatol Case Rep Date: 2013-09-30