Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Alone or With Delayed Chemo Versus ART With Immediate Chemo for Limited AIDS-related Kaposi's Sarcoma

AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS-KS) occurs in persons with HIV infection who are also infected with the Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV). Several chemotherapy (anti-cancer) drugs work well in treating KS, but there is no treatment that cures KSHV infection. One chemotherapy drug called etoposide (VePesid®, ET) has caused KS tumors to get smaller in some people.

Antiretroviral therapy (anti-HIV drugs or ART) is a group of medicines taken together to treat HIV infection. These medicines help to stop HIV from growing in the body. When this happens, the immune system, which fights infection and some cancers like KS, gets stronger. For some people, limited stage KS often improves or stays the same when they take ART. However, in some people KS continues to get worse when taking ART. These people may need chemotherapy at a later date.

This study was done to find out if taking ART with immediate etoposide (ET) is better than taking ART alone or ART with delayed ET to treat limited stage KS. The study also tried to better understand KSHV and to see what kind of side effects are caused by ART and ET and how safe ART and ET are.

The study consisted of three steps. At the study Step 1 entry, the participants were randomized (1:1) to receive ART alone (Arm A) or ART with immediate ET (Arm B). Study participants in Arm A who experienced KS progression that was confirmed by the Independent Endpoint Review Committee (IERC) could receive etoposide (ET) in addition to ART by entering Step 2 between study weeks 8 and 80. The target sample size was 468, 234 per arm. Randomization was stratified by:

1. Screening CD4 cell count (\<200 or ≥200 cells/mm\^3) and
2. ART history (naïve or experienced).

The duration of Step 1 or Step 1 and 2 combined was 96 weeks. After 96 weeks on study, participants who received ET (Arm B participants and Arm A participants who entered Step 2) entered Step 3 for a total of 144 weeks of safety follow-up.

Step 1 visits occurred at screening, entry and weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 24, 32, 40, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96 from study entry. Step 2 visits were scheduled at entry and weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 24, 32, 40, 48, 60, 72, 84 from Step 2 entry until up to 96 weeks on study. The key evaluations included physical examination, clinical assessments, KS exam, CD4 cell count, HIV viral load, hematology, chemistry and pregnancy testing (for women of reproductive potential). Plasma, serum, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), KS tumor punch biopsy were be stored for use in future analyses. Participants also completed ET and ART adherence evaluations and quality of life questionnaires. Step 3 visits were scheduled every 24 weeks and were limited to safety evaluations including targeted physical exam, clinical assessments and hematology.

Study accrual terminated early, based on the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) recommendation in March 2016. The participants in Steps 1 and 2 at that time were arranged to enter either Step 3 for safety follow-up after ET or, if they did not receive ET, to be taken off study.

Eligibility Criteria:
Step 1: Inclusion Criteria

1. HIV-1 infection.
2. Biopsy diagnostic of KS at any time prior to study entry.
3. Limited stage KS defined as stage T0 and some presentations of stage T1. Stage T0 was confined to skin and/or lymph nodes and/or minimal oral disease defined as non-nodular KS confined to the palate. The following presentations of stage T1 KS were also eligible at the discretion of the site investigator:

   * Tumor-associated edema limited to the area(s) of KS without significant functional impairment.
   * Oral KS that consists of flat (non-nodular and non-ulcerating) lesions confined to the soft palate, hard palate, gums, and buccal mucosa.
   * Asymptomatic gastrointestinal KS (i.e., no unexplained abdominal pain or gastrointestinal bleeding).
4. A minimum of 5 cutaneous marker lesions
5. Certain laboratory values obtained within 14 days prior to study entry.
6. For female participants of reproductive potential, a negative serum or urine pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to study entry.
7. All participants must have agreed not to participate in a conception process (e.g., active attempt to become pregnant or to impregnate, donate sperm, in vitro fertilization).
8. Participants who are participating in sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy must have agreed to use a combination of TWO of the following methods- Condoms (male or female) with or without a spermicidal agent, diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide, IUD, tubal ligation, and/or hormone-based contraception. For Etoposide, confirmation of lack of reproductive potential was required for all participants. More information on this criterion can be found in the study protocol.
9. Ability to swallow oral medications.
10. Karnofsky performance score \>= 60 within 30 days prior to entry.
11. Ability and willingness of participant or legal guardian/representative to provide informed consent.
12. Peripheral blood CD4+ lymphocyte cell count obtained within 30 days prior to study entry at a DAIDS-approved laboratory.
13. For treatment-experienced patients, the availability of an ART regimen that includes at least two ART drugs that in the opinion of the site investigator are expected to have activity based on historical genotypic testing (if available) and treatment history.
14. For participants who were to receive ART other than EFV/TDF/FTC, the availability of those ART components.

Step 2: Inclusion Criteria

1. KS progression compared to study entry or best response with ART alone while on Step 1, between weeks 8 and 80.
2. Need for ET for treatment of KS progression, in the opinion of the site investigator, after confirmation of KS progression by the IERC.
3. Willingness to receive ET for treatment of KS progression.
4. For female participants of reproductive potential, a negative serum or urine pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to initiating ET.
5. Karnofsky Performance Score \>= 50.
6. Certain laboratory values obtained within 14 days prior to Step 2 entry.
7. Ability to swallow oral medications.
8. All participants must have agreed not to participate in a conception process (e.g., active attempt to become pregnant or to impregnate, donate sperm, in vitro fertilization).
9. Participants who are participating in sexual activity that could lead to pregnancy must have agreed to use a combination of TWO of the following methods- Condoms (male or female) with or without a spermicidal agent, diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide, IUD, tubal ligation, hormone-based contraception. For Etoposide, confirmation of lack of reproductive potential was required for all participants. More information on this criterion can be found in the study protocol.

Step 3: Inclusion Criteria

1. Received at least one dose of ET (Arm B participants and Arm A participants who entered Step 2)

Step 1: Exclusion Criteria

1. Any manifestation of KS which, in the opinion of the site investigator, requires immediate chemotherapy.
2. More than 14 days of ART after onset of KS within 6 months prior to study entry.
3. Biopsy proven KS during previous ART.
4. Breastfeeding.
5. Allergy/sensitivity to any study drug or its formulations.
6. Any prior systemic anti-neoplastic treatment for KS (including chemotherapy, biological therapy, immunotherapy or investigational therapy).
7. Any prior local treatment of cutaneous marker lesions unless there was evidence of a clear-cut progression of the lesion.
8. Receipt of any investigational therapy within 30 days prior to study entry.
9. Current or anticipated receipt of any of the prohibited medications indicated in the study protocol.
10. In the opinion of the site investigator, any psychological or social condition, or addictive disorder that would have precluded compliance with the protocol.
11. Chronic, acute, or recurrent infections that were serious, in the opinion of the site investigator, for which the participant had not completed at least 14 days of therapy prior to study entry and/or was not clinically stable.

Step 2: Exclusion Criteria

1. Chronic, acute, or recurrent infections that were serious, in the opinion of the site investigator, for which the participant had not completed at least 14 days of therapy prior to initiating ET and/or was not clinically stable.
2. Current or anticipated receipt of any of the prohibited medications indicated in the study protocol.
3. Breastfeeding.

There are no exclusion criteria for Step 3.