Abstract 86P
Background
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal neoplasm of lymphatic endothelium-derived cells infected with the human herpes virus 8. Four clinical subtypes are distinguished: classic, endemic, epidemic HIV-positive patients, and iatrogenic. While several studies have been published regarding AIDS-related KS, and standard first- and second-line treatments exist for those patients (pts), no such standard treatment has been established for Classic KS (CKS). Although pegylated liposomal doxorubicin(PLD) has been approved for use in pts with AIDS-associated KS, few small retrospective studies have described the use of PLD in CKS.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis in a Portuguese cancer center from 2017 to 2022 of all Kaposi Sarcomas treated with DLP. We aim to review survival e treatment patterns in our cohort, mainly composed of classic/endemic patients(pts).
Results
We identified 15 pts, all male with a median age of 70 (37-78), 8/15 (53%) were stage IV and received systemic chemotherapy containing one of the following agents: PDL(90%), taxane, or etoposide. In some cases, the human herpes virus 8 status was assessed by immunohistochemistry (6/15 pts) and was always positive. Only 2 patients were HIV positive. At a median follow-up of 62 mts (95% CI, range 24–208), 11 patients were alive and 4 had died (1 KS-related and 3 non-KS-related deaths). Complete and partial responses were observed in 8 (53.3%) and 5 (33.3%) pts. Disease progression occurred in 9 (60%) pts. The mean progression-free survival was 98 months (mts) (95% confidence interval (CI), 49–147) and overall survival was 155 mts (95% CI, 102–207); the median was not reached. In general, treatment was well tolerated and no toxic deaths occurred.
Conclusions
Although such systemic strategies, based on chemotherapy, resulted in an 86.6% overall response rate, they are not curative and their efficacy is only transient (9pts had progression). Our cohort highlights the clinical aggressiveness of the endemic KS subtype, raising the challenge for larger studies to improve outcomes and management of this rare disease.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.