Kaposi Sarcoma and Alpha-Interferon Therapy
Authors: Robert L. Krigel
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1989)

Letters and Corrections15 July 1989Kaposi Sarcoma and Alpha-Interferon TherapyRobert L. Krigel, MDRobert L. Krigel, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-111-2-185_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the Editor:Interferon-alpha has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of Kaposi sarcoma related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This approval was based on evidence showing activity of this agent in this disease in studies that confirm that only high doses were effective. As Groopman and Scadden (1) pointed out, the activity of this agent is low in patients with poor prognostic indicators (previous opportunistic infection, presence of systemic symptoms, and low CD4 lymphocyte counts). In fact, no treatment, including interferon, has been shown to alter the natural history of this disease although...References1. GroopmanScadden JD. Interferon therapy for Kaposi sarcoma associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Ann Intern Med. 1989;110:335-7. LinkGoogle Scholar2. KrigelFriedman-Kien RA. Kaposi's sarcoma. In: DeVita V, Hellman S, Rosenberg S, eds. AIDS. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company; 1988. Google Scholar3. ChachouaKrigelLafleur ARF. Prognostic factors and staging classification of patients with epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma. J Clin Oncol. 1989;7:774-80. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. KrownBundowGansbacher SDB. Interferon-α plus zidovudine in AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (AIDS/KS): an ongoing phase I trial [Abstract]. Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology; 1988. Google Scholar5. KrigelSlywotzkyLonberg RCM. Treatment of epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma with a combination of interferon-alpha 2b and etoposide. J Biol Response Mod. 1988;7:359-64. MedlineGoogle Scholar1. LaneKovacsFeinberg HJJ. Anti-retroviral effects of interferon-alpha in AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma. Lancet. 1988;2:1218-22. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. de WitSchattenkerkBoucherBakkerVeenhofDanner RJCPKS. Clinical and virological effects of high-dose recombinant interferon-alpha in disseminated AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Lancet. 1988;2:1214-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. SpectorKennedyMcCutchan SCJ. The antiviral effect of zidovudine and ribavirin in clinical trials and the use of p24 antigen levels as a virologie marker. J Infect Dis. 1989;259:822. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Fox Chase Cancer Center Philadelphia, PA 19111 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByKaposi's sarcomaTreatment of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome—related Kaposi's sarcoma with bleomycin as a single agent 15 July 1989Volume 111, Issue 2Page: 185-187KeywordsAIDSFood and Drug AdministrationInterferonsKaposi sarcomaLymphocytesNatural history of diseaseOpportunistic infections Issue Published: 15 July 1989 PDF DownloadLoading ...