HAART Might Not Reduce KS Tumors

Although highly active antiretroviral therapy may help reduce Kaposi's sarcoma tumors in some HIV-positive adults, the anti-HIV drugs alone are not enough to reduce tumors in patients with moderate to advanced cases of the cancer, researchers reported in the August 20 edition of the journal AIDS. After 48 weeks of treatment, about 20% of study subjects starting their first HAART regimen or switching to a new regimen achieved significant tumor reduction, compared to 76% of those taking both HAART and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, an anticancer drug. Two thirds of the study subjects taking only HAART ultimately had to be prescribed PLD because of tumor growth. 'Although HAART alone may be enough for patients with less advanced KS, in cases of moderate-to-severe disease better response rates are observed when PLD is given with HAART,' the researchers concluded.