KS: a new drug and, maybe, a new bug. Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003. 800-458-5231 ext. 5023. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1995. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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KS: a new drug and, maybe, a new bug. Clearinghouse, P.O. Box 6003, Rockville, MD 20849-6003. 800-458-5231 ext. 5023.

Treat Issues. 1995 Jan;9(1):11-12. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE AIDS/95700121
Gilden D

Abstract: A clinical trial of DOX-SL, involving 500 patients at 45 sites around the country, will be open to people with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) who have failed or are intolerant to systemic combination chemotherapy involving at least 2 drugs, not including alpha interferon. DOX-SL is a special long-lasting version of the standard anti-cancer agent doxorubicin. Encapsulated in protective liposomes, the drug concentrates in KS lesions, where it is gradually released. The drug is administered in half-hour infusions every two to three weeks. In a previous trial with 77 persons with treatment-resistant KS, disease progression was temporarily blocked in all but 6 percent of participants. Most people experienced reduction in the severity or amount of lesions, pain, or swelling, but no one went into complete remission. However, people taking DOX-SL experienced a severe reduction of white blood cell counts and hemoglobin levels below normal levels. The manufacturer, Liposome Technologies, Inc., has filed for approval from the Food and Drug Administration for DOX-SL as a treatment for refractory KS. In a related event, a team of researchers has announced evidence that KS is caused by a herpes virus.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*COMPLICATIONS Doxorubicin/*ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE/THERAPEUTIC USE Drug Approval Drug Carriers Human Liposomes Sarcoma, Kaposi's/*DRUG THERAPY/ETIOLOGY NEWSLETTER ARTICLEKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDcomplicationsdoxorubicin/KWDadministration&dosage/therapeuticusedrugapprovaldrugcarriershumanliposomessarcoma,kaposi's/KWDdrugtherapy/etiologynewsletterarticle
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M9551018

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