Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) was one of the first AIDS-defining illnesses, and continues to be a source of substantial morbidity. Current therapeutic strategies and regimens for widespread or visceral disease are toxic and have not yielded significant prolongation of survival. Recent advances in the ability to culture KS spindle cells in vitro over the past several years have begun to lay the foundation for the consideration of novel approaches to the therapy of KS. In particular, evidence has emerged that a cascade of growth factors are important in the development of KS lesions and that angiogenesis is involved. In the Retroviral Diseases Section, we have initiated a pre-clinical and clinical program to develop therapies for KS. Using the methodology initially developed by Dr. Gallo's laboratory, we have developed several spindle cell lines from patients with KS which grow in response to retroviral-conditioned media. One of our first lines of attack will be to critically examine the relationship between these lines and KS. In particular, there are questions as to whether these lines are unique to KS per se, or whether they are normal cells stimulated by cytokines. In preliminary experiments, we have learned that these lines are inhibited by pentosan polysulfate and by TNP-470 (an angiogenesis inhibitor initially developed by Judah Folkman and Takeda Co.) We will continue to study these and other in vitro models for KS and to use they to develop therapeutic strategies. We have recently completed a pilot study of pentosan polysulfate in patients with KS, and are in the process of conducting trials of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) (alone and in combination with alpha-interferon) and of TNP-470.
NIH ExPorter
NIH ExPorter