Kaposiʼs sarcoma (KS) is a multicentricangioproliferative cancer of endothelialorigin typically occurring in the context of immunodeficiency,i.e. coinfection with Human ImmonodeficiencyVirus (HIV) or transplantation.The incidence of KS has dramatically decreasedin both US and Europe in the Highly Active AntiretroviralTherapy (HAART) era. However, KS remains the second most frequent tumor in HIV-infectedpatients worldwide and it has become the most common cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa.In 1994, Yuan Chang et al discovered a novelγ-herpesvirus in biopsy specimens of humanKS. Epidemiologic studies showed that KS-associatedherpesvirus (KSHV) or human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) was the etiological agent associatedwith all subtypes of KS.KS has a variable clinical course ranging fromvery indolent forms to a rapidly progressive disease.HAART represents the first treatment step forslowly progressive disease. Chemotherapy (CT) plus HAART is indicated for visceral and/or rapidly progressive disease. The current understanding ofKS as a convergence of immune evasion, oncogenesis,inflammation and angiogenesis has promptedinvestigators to develop target therapy, based onanti-angiogenic agents as well as metalloproteinaseand cytokine signaling pathway inhibitors.These drugs may represent effective strategies forpatients with AIDS-associated KS, which progress despite chemotherapy and/or HAART.In this review, we focus on the current state ofknowledge on KSHV epidemiology, pathogenesisand therapeutic options.

Kaposi’ s sarcoma in HIV-positive patients: the state of art in the HAART-era

NUNNARI G;CACOPARDO, Bruno Santi
2013-01-01

Abstract

Kaposiʼs sarcoma (KS) is a multicentricangioproliferative cancer of endothelialorigin typically occurring in the context of immunodeficiency,i.e. coinfection with Human ImmonodeficiencyVirus (HIV) or transplantation.The incidence of KS has dramatically decreasedin both US and Europe in the Highly Active AntiretroviralTherapy (HAART) era. However, KS remains the second most frequent tumor in HIV-infectedpatients worldwide and it has become the most common cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa.In 1994, Yuan Chang et al discovered a novelγ-herpesvirus in biopsy specimens of humanKS. Epidemiologic studies showed that KS-associatedherpesvirus (KSHV) or human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) was the etiological agent associatedwith all subtypes of KS.KS has a variable clinical course ranging fromvery indolent forms to a rapidly progressive disease.HAART represents the first treatment step forslowly progressive disease. Chemotherapy (CT) plus HAART is indicated for visceral and/or rapidly progressive disease. The current understanding ofKS as a convergence of immune evasion, oncogenesis,inflammation and angiogenesis has promptedinvestigators to develop target therapy, based onanti-angiogenic agents as well as metalloproteinaseand cytokine signaling pathway inhibitors.These drugs may represent effective strategies forpatients with AIDS-associated KS, which progress despite chemotherapy and/or HAART.In this review, we focus on the current state ofknowledge on KSHV epidemiology, pathogenesisand therapeutic options.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/14226
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