| Item type: | Article | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journal or Publication Title: | Cancer Investigation | ||||
| Publisher: | TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC | ||||
| Place of Publication: | PHILADELPHIA | ||||
| Volume: | 23 | ||||
| Number of Issue or Book Chapter: | 8 | ||||
| Page Range: | pp. 653-659 | ||||
| Date: | 2005 | ||||
| Institutions: | Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin | ||||
| Identification Number: |
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| Keywords: | HERPESVIRUS; EFFICACY; CRITERIA; CELLS; classic Kaposi's sarcoma; pegylated liposomal doxorubicin; low-dose recombinant interferon alfa-2a | ||||
| Dewey Decimal Classification: | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine | ||||
| Status: | Published | ||||
| Refereed: | Yes, this version has been refereed | ||||
| Created at the University of Regensburg: | Yes | ||||
| Item ID: | 70999 |
Web of ScienceAbstract
Background : Classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare neoplasm, predominantly occurring in older subjects of Eastern Europe or Mediterranean descent. While single lesions may be treated by simple excision, laser therapy, cryotherapy, or intralesional therapy, advanced or disseminated disease requires systemic treatment. Several studies reported the effectiveness of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin ...
Abstract
Background : Classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a rare neoplasm, predominantly occurring in older subjects of Eastern Europe or Mediterranean descent. While single lesions may be treated by simple excision, laser therapy, cryotherapy, or intralesional therapy, advanced or disseminated disease requires systemic treatment. Several studies reported the effectiveness of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) and low-dose recombinant interferon alfa-2a (IFN alpha) in the treatment of AIDS-associated KS. Objective : The aim of this retrospective analysis of three German centers was to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of PLD with IFN alpha in patients with advanced classic KS. Methods : Retrospective analysis of 18 Caucasian patients who had been treated for histologically proven classic KS, with either with PLD or IFN alpha was performed. Twelve patients received 20 mg/m 2 of PLD monthly, and the number of cycles was adapted to the clinical response. Dose reduction or increased cycle length was conducted if toxicity intervened. In 6 patients, 3 million U of IFN alpha was injected subcutaneously 3 times a week. IFN alpha -therapy was adapted according to the clinical response. Results : In the 12 KS patients treated with PLD, complete response (CR) was achieved in 8 (67 percent), major response (MR) in 3 (25 percent), and minor response (mR) in 1 (8 percent). Stable disease (SD) or progression of disease (PD) was not observed. An initial response was noted after 4-16 weeks of treatment (mean 8.6 weeks), the mean cumulative dose of PLD was 571.5 mg/m 2 (range, 40 to 1496 mg/m 2 ), and the mean follow-up was 13 months. Neutropenia (33 percent) related to PLD was the most common adverse event (4/12). Vomiting occurred in 3 (25 percent) patients; none of these were severe. Six patients were treated with IFN alpha . MR was achieved in 1 (17 percent), mR in 4 (67 percent) and SD in 1 of 6 patients (17 percent), neither had CR or PD. An initial response was observed after 8-17 weeks of treatment (mean 12.7 weeks). Fever occurred in 4 patients (67 percent). Flu-like symptoms in 3 patients (50 percent) related to IFN alpha were the most common adverse events. Mean follow-up was 6.3 months. The differences in response to treatment between PLD and IFN alpha , in general, were significant with p < 0.05 (T-test for independent samples). Comparing weeks to respond and treatment efficiency data were significant with p < 0.001 (Fisher's exact): response to PLD was up to one-third faster than IFN alpha. Calculating different stages of response (MR, CR, etc.), PLD also was clearly superior (p = 0.018) to IFNa (Fisher's exact). Conclusion: This retrospective analysis of patients with classic KS confirms the efficacy and safety of PLD. The benefits of PLD, including the monthly application, the high response even after previous treatments have failed, and the low rate of side effects even in elderly individuals, outweigh the risks. PLD is superior to IFNa and should be considered as an promising option in the treatment of advanced classic KS.
Metadata last modified: 19 Dec 2024 15:05
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