Continuous infusion etoposide in advanced AIDS-related kaposi sarcoma

We conducted a preliminary phase II clinical trial to determine the toxicity, response, and survival rate of 72-hour continuous infusion etoposide administered to patients with AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma. Nine patients with biopsy proven and measurable disease AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma were treated with a continuous infusion of etoposide at a dose of 100 mg/m2 per day for 3 days every 3 weeks. All patients were evaluated for toxicity, response, and survival employing the NCI Common Toxicity Criteria, and both the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) response criteria. All patients enrolled had at least two on-study poor risk factors by ACTG staging criteria. A total of 17 cycles of therapy were administered. Thirty-five percent of cycles were associated with grade 3 or greater leukopenia. Infectious complications were common, and there was one toxic death. Two partial responses (22%) by ACTG criteria were observed (95% confidence interval, 0% to 51%). In the absence of objective responses using more strict solid tumor response criteria and toxicity encountered we believe further evaluation of a 72-hour continuous infusion schedule of etoposide in patients with advanced AIDS and poor risk Kaposi's sarcoma is not warranted.