Do we still need chemotherapy for AIDS-associated Kaposi’s sarcoma?

Abstract

The widespread introduction of effective combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has had a major influence on the epidemiology and natural history of AIDS-associated Kaposi’s sarcoma (AIDS-KS). cART has reduced the incidence of AIDS-KS, and it has been shown to be an effective treatment for early-stage KS. So with the widespread availability of cART, is systemic chemotherapy still required for AIDS-KS? Two indications appear to remain: advanced-stage AIDS-KS and patients who have progressive KS despite effective cART including immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome KS.

Keywords::

• AIDS
• antiretrovirals
• chemotherapy
• HIV
• Kaposi sarcoma

Financial & competing interests disclosure

K Hayward is employed by ViiV healthcare. M Bower has received speaker fees from BMS, GSK, Jansen & Gallen. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.