Abstract
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most common malignancy that affects patients with HIV infection. Considerable progress has recently been achieved in understanding the pathogenesis of this vascular malignancy. A novel herpesvirus has been detected in KS lesions of all types, in skin-lesions of post-transplant immunosuppressed individuals and in various lymphoproliferative disorders. Apart from this, the increased severity of this neoplasm in patients infected with HIV may be due to HIV-derived tat protein synergising with cytokines and chemokines with angiogenetic activity. Finally, the lower incidence of the malignancy in females may be related to a protective effect of human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), presumably mediated by its effect on microvasculature. All these advances suggest new possibilities in the management of the disease.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 311-315 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 3 |
Publication status | Published - Sep 1999 |
Keywords
- AIDS
- Angiogenic factors
- HHV-8
- Hormones
- Kaposi's sarcoma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cancer Research
- Oncology