[Refractory AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma treated successfully with paclitaxel: a case report]

We report a case of a 45-year-old Japanese man with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) involving skin, liver, and lungs. Antiretroviral therapy was started in conjunction with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD). A clinical response was observed initially, but symptoms recurred following cessation of medication. The chemotherapeutic agent was changed to paclitaxel (PTX), since the therapeutic response to PLD was reduced and the total dose reached the maximum dose of 500 mg/m2. The patient had a good response to PTX and tolerated the medication well. Symptoms did not recur after completing 8 courses of chemotherapy. PTX should be considered as an alternative agent in treating KS when there are problems with the use of PLD.