natural history study of kaposi sarcoma

Conditions: Kaposi Sarcoma; HIV

Summary: background: kaposi sarcoma (ks) is a type of tumor caused by the kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus. ks usually affects the skin, but lesions can also appear in the lymph nodes, lungs and digestive tract. ks is most common in people with compromised immunity, but it also appears in otherwise healthy people. researchers want to understand more about how ks develops, why it may recur, and how it affects the immune system and organs. objective: to learn more about the natural history of ks. eligibility: people aged 18 years and older with ks. design: participants will be screened. they will have a physical exam with blood tests. they will have an imaging scan. they may need a new biopsy: tissue samples may be cut from their tumor. their ability to perform normal activities will be assessed. participants will visit the clinic to have their ks evaluated. in addition to the imaging scans and other tests performed during screening, procedures may include: eye exam. ultrasound exam of the heart (electrocardiogram). collection of saliva and urine samples. biopsies of the skin or lymph nodes. swabs of the anus and cervix. photographs of skin lesions. removal of fluid samples from the space around the lungs, intestine, or heart. the evaluation visit will be repeated 5 more times over 18 months and then yearly for up to 10 years. participants will follow their standard treatment for ks during the study.

background: * kaposi sarcoma (ks) is a multicentric angioproliferative tumor caused by kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (kshv) that most frequently involves skin, but can also involve lymph nodes, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. it is most common in people with human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) or other forms of immune compromise. * patients with hiv-associated ks have worse survival than hiv-infected patients without ks. * ks can occur alone or with other kshv-associated disorders such as multicentric castleman disease (mcd), primary effusion lymphoma (pel), or kshv-associated inflammatory cytokine syndrome (kics). * the natural history of ks is incompletely understood as it occurs in different epidemiologic subtypes (including those with hiv, particularly among individuals with well-controlled hiv and robust cd4 t cell counts, and those who are hiv-negative). * the longitudinal evaluations along with tissue sample collection, imaging studies, and participant reported outcomes will allow for the development of a better understanding of the natural history of this disease, and the development of the basis for more effective treatments. objective: -to characterize the natural history of ks, including presentation, manifestation, and proportion of participants with ks with remission and recurrence by epidemiologic subtype eligibility: * participants with histologically confirmed ks * age \>=18 years * no active kics or mcd design: * this will be a long-term trial to comprehensively study participants with ks. * medical history including hiv characteristics, research specimens such as ks tissue, blood and saliva will be obtained through the course of ks management with specific attention to patterns related to disease recurrence and progression, response to therapies, and duration of response. * outcomes and factors that influence the onset and persistence of ks over the natural history of this condition will be explored in collaboration with other centers that treat participants with ks. * we anticipate accruing 230 participants on this protocol.

Eligibility criteria:
* inclusion criteria: participants must have histological ks confirmed by the laboratory of pathology (lp), nci. * ks as assessed by cutaneous or oral ks lesions or other assessable ks disease. * age \>=18 years. * ecog performance status \<=4. * ability of participant to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. exclusion criteria: * participants with active kshv-associated inflammatory cytokine syndrome (kics), multicentric castleman disease (mcd), or primary effusion lymphoma (pel). * participants with serious and/or uncontrolled severe intercurrent illness, such as opportunistic infections, that in the judgement of the investigator would preclude participation in the study.

Keywords: kaposi sarcoma samples and data collection longitudinal clinical evaluations