Risk Factors for Non-HIV-Related Kaposi s Sarcoma
Condition: Kaposi's Sarcoma
MeSH terms: Sarcoma, Kaposi; Sarcoma
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      This study will try to identify risk factors for Kaposi s sarcoma, a rare skin cancer, and to
      understand the role of the KSHV virus in development of the disease.

      All native-born Italians 21 years of age or older residing in Sicily from July 1, 2002
      through June 30, 2005 who have Kaposi s sarcoma not related to HIV infection may be eligible
      for this study. Healthy control subjects will also be enrolled.

      All participants will be interviewed about their childhood, jobs, habits, medical conditions,
      and treatments. They also will provide a blood sample and a saliva sample, obtained by
      swishing a mouthwash for 45 seconds and spitting it into a container.

      Blood will be tested for two viruses KSHV and HIV that are related to Kapsosi s sarcoma. The
      KSHV virus is newly discovered and not well understood. In general, a positive KSHV test
      probably means an infection with the virus has occurred in the past, but not necessarily that
      disease has developed. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. People with AIDS have a high risk
      of Kapsosi s sarcoma. Although HIV and AIDS are very rare among older adults in Sicily, the
      presence of HIV must be ruled out in order to understand how KSHV is related to Kapsosi s
      sarcoma.

      The blood may also be used to measure immunity (the body s defense against infection and
      cancer) and for genetic studies to help discover why Kapsosi s sarcoma occurs.
    

Detailed description: 
      Persons infected with the Kaposi s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) are at risk for
      developing Kaposi s sarcoma (KS), but the risk factors for KSHV infection and for KS
      following infection are not well defined. Classical KS (cKS) occurs without apparent immune
      deficiency (such as AIDS or an allograft). The proposed study will test specific hypotheses
      and generate new hypotheses on the risk of cKS among persons who have antibodies against
      KSHV, on the risk of KSHV seropositivity, and on the risk of active KSHV infection, defined
      as KSHV viremia or viral shedding in saliva. To do so, 120 incident cases of cKS from
      throughout Sicily and approximately 1800 persons (15% KSHV seropositive) of similar age, sex,
      and community size will be asked to participate by providing questionnaire data and blood and
      saliva specimens. Residual formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue from KS skin biopsies
      will be available for verification of diagnosis and molecular analyses. Primary hypotheses
      are focused on host genetic susceptibility, endogenous clinical conditions (such as asthma
      and allergy), and exogenous exposures (cigarette smoking and contact with certain plants,
      water and soil) that are postulated to affect KSHV activation, dissemination, and disease
      induction. The study will have sufficient statistical power to detect factors that increase
      the risk of KSHV seropositivity by 1.5- to 2-fold, the risk of cKS by 2- to 3-fold, and the
      risk of KSHV viremia or shedding by 3- to 4-fold.
    

Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Other
Sampling method: Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Population based samples of adults from Italy (Southern Italy).@@@
      
Keywords: Human Herpes virus 8 (HHV8); Kaposis sarcoma (KS); Kaposi Sarcoma; Karposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus; KSHV; KS