Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2025
An In Vitro Model for Studying Cellular Transformation by Kaposi Sarcoma Herpesvirus
Published on: August 25, 2017
Clonality, Mutation and Kaposi Sarcoma: A Systematic Review
Blanca Iciar Indave Ruiz1, Subasri Armon1, Reiko Watanabe1
1International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health Organization, 69372 Lyon, France.
Background:
It remains uncertain whether Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a true neoplasm, in that it regresses after removal of the stimulus to growth (as HHV8) when immunosuppression is reduced. We aimed to summarize the available evidence on somatic mutations and clonality within KS to assess whether KS is a neoplasm or not.
Methods:
Medline and Web of Science were searched until September 2020 for articles on clonality or mutation in KS. Search strings were supervised by expert librarians, and two researchers independently performed study selection and data extraction. An adapted version of the QUADAS2 tool was used for methodological quality appraisal.
Results:
Of 3077 identified records, 20 publications reported on relevant outcomes and were eligible for qualitative synthesis. Five studies reported on clonality, 10 studies reported on various mutations, and 5 studies reported on chromosomal aberrations in KS. All studies were descriptive and were judged to have a high risk of bias. There was considerable heterogeneity of results with respect to clonality, mutation and cytogenetic abnormalities as well as in terms of types of lesions and patient characteristics.
Conclusions:
While KS certainly produces tumours, the knowledge is currently insufficient to determine whether KS is a clonal neoplasm (sarcoma), or simply an aggressive reactive virus-driven lesion.
Insights
Kaposi sarcoma (KS) may produce tumors, but evidence is insufficient to classify it as a clonal neoplasm. Further research is needed to determine if KS is a virus-driven lesion or a true sarcoma.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Genetics
Background:
- Kaposi sarcoma (KS) etiology is debated, particularly its classification as a neoplasm.
- Uncertainty exists regarding KS regression upon removal of Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) stimulus and reduced immunosuppression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the available evidence on somatic mutations and clonality in KS.
- To determine if KS exhibits characteristics of a neoplasm.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of Medline and Web of Science up to September 2020.
- Independent study selection and data extraction by two researchers.
- Methodological quality appraisal using an adapted QUADAS-2 tool.
Main Results:
- Twenty publications were eligible for qualitative synthesis from 3077 identified records.
- Studies reported on clonality (5), mutations (10), and chromosomal aberrations (5) in KS.
- High risk of bias and considerable heterogeneity in results were noted across studies.
Conclusions:
- KS exhibits tumor formation, but its nature as a clonal neoplasm remains undetermined.
- Current knowledge is insufficient to definitively classify KS as a sarcoma versus a reactive, virus-driven lesion.
Related Concept Videos
01:03Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
01:51Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers