Evidence of activity of vinorelbine in patients with previously treated AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most common malignancy observed in patients with HIV infection, but the optimal treatment strategy for this tumour remains to be defined. Among the current options for the systemic treatment of KS several chemotherapeutic agents are active and result in a significant proportion of objective responses, often accompanied by improvement of symptoms. This observation has led to the suggestion that vinorelbine might be less neurotoxic and more toxic to the cancer cell. During the past 5 years, vinorelbine has undergone clinical evaluation in a number of malignancies, but to our knowledge, it has not been evaluated in epidemic KS. When we started the present study we thought that this drug deserved evaluation in this setting in light of its activity in the various tumour types of the general population and its safety and tolerability. In addition, it is known that vinca alkaloids are active agents in the treatment of epidemic KS and form the basis for combination regimens. From December 1994 to March 1996, within the Italian Cooperative Group on AIDS and Tumours (GICAT) we treated 22 patients with disseminated epidemic KS with 30 mg/m super(2) vinorelbine given intravenously every 2 weeks. In conclusion our results suggest that vinorelbine is active and well-tolerated n previously treated patients with AIDS-associated KS.