Radiation therapy in the treatment of HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most frequent neoplasm occurring in patients with HIV-related AIDS and very often exhibits multifocal distribution so that a systemic approach is needed. KS is considered a radiosensitive tumor and (RT) has always played an important role in the therapeutic strategy of its various forms. RT is a valuable means of pain relief, bleeding control and edema palliation, but it is also an effective treatment modality for local control of skin and mucosal lesions in KS. The purpose of the present article is to report the results obtained by the Radiotherapy Unit of S. Camillo-Forlanini Hospital in Rome in the management of 38 AIDS-associated KS lesions and to assess the efficacy of RT in the treatment and local control of KS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients histologically-diagnosed with HIV-related KS underwent RT in the period between January 2002 and January 2012 at the Radiotherapy Unit of S. Camillo-Forlanini Hospital in Rome. In all cases, the lesions caused pain or discomfort and a thorough careful clinical evaluation had indicated a radiation treatment. A total of 38 lesions were treated with radiotherapy. Fifteen patients received systemic chemotherapy. Eight patients with multiple cutaneous lesions on their legs and arms were treated with a radiation schedule prescribing extended cutaneous irradiation using 6-18 MeV electron beam energy, 200 cGy per fraction and a total dose between 24-30 Gy, according to the depth of lesions. One of these patients had also a cutaneous lesion on an eyelid that was treated with a radiation schedule using 6 MeV electron beam energy and bolus of 1 cm, 200 cGy per fraction and a total dose of 30 Gy. Seven patients with single cutaneous lesions on the legs and arms were treated using a photon regimen of 6 Mv energy, 200 cGy per fraction and a total dose between 20 and 36 Gy. Two patients had oral mucosa lesions and they were treated with a radiation schedule prescribing irradiation using 6 Mev photon regimen and personal mask, 200 cGy per fraction and a total dose of 24 and 30 Gy, respectively. A patient with a single bone lesion on the spinal column was treated with irradiation using 6 Mev photon regimen, 300 cGy per fraction and a total dose of 30 Gy.
RESULTS: At the time of reporting, 14 patients were alive and four patients had died. One patient died due to complications from HIV infection. The follow-up from the end of the treatment ranged from four to 124 months (mean=51.17 months). The overall survival for the group was 88.8% at one year. The mean overall survival was 57.4 months. A complete response was achieved for 31 lesions (83.8 %); a partial response with a tumor regression was observed for six lesions (16.2 %). No relapses were observed during the period of follow-up, but we observed new lesions in one patient. According to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scale we observed erythematic and dry desquamation (grade 1) in eight sites (21%); in only one patient (2.6%) did stomatitis occur (grade 1). Good cosmetic results were described for 25 (65.7%) out of 31 lesions. Effective palliative action was obtained for all lesions except for two (5.2%) located in a vertebra and hard palate.
CONCLUSION: RT will be a mainstay of cure for this group of patients especially when of young age and the will to preserve the cosmetic appearance is a primary need.