Kaposi's sarcoma in HIV-infected patients: treatment options

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most prevalent AIDS-associated tumour, occurring in 20-30% of HIV-1-infected individuals in the early 1980s. The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically reduced the incidence of the disease and might therefore support the concept of 'opportunistic malignancies' requiring immune impairments to occur. The relationship between the immune system and the epidemiology of this virus-induced tumour is of importance in order to identify new therapeutic approaches for treating or preventing its occurrence. As a model of impaired angiogenesis, therapeutic options for treating AIDS patients with KS should therefore target cell division, anti-angiogenic processes, immune modulators, cytokines and potentially antiviral drugs.