Recombinant α-2b-interferon in classic Kaposi's sarcoma

Abstract

Classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is frequently observed in the Mediterranean area, and is an endemic disease in Sardinia, an island situated in the central Mediterranean. Retrospective and prospective studies conducted on the island at different times, starting from 1965 and concluding in 1988, have shown an extremely high incidence of this disorder of around 1.6/100 000 inhabitants per year. The therapeutic approach to KS is based on its clinical course and tends to be conservative when the disease is localized, but more aggressive when it is generalized. The localized forms are mainly treated by local therapy including surgery and/or diathermy, local infiltration with chemotherapeutic agents and radiology. In the generalized forms, the most frequent therapies include vinca alkaloids, bleomycin or combinations of drugs, or interferon. The present study presents the results obtained in 21 patients with classic KS treated with recombinant α-2b-inferferon.