Combination chemotherapy of disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Two clinical trials were conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of a combination chemotherapy regimen for the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Eighteen consecutive patients with disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma were treated with a six-drug regimen of doxorubicin (Adriamycin), vinblastine, bleomycin/actinomycin D, vincristine, dacarbazine (ABV/ADV). A brief partial or complete response was achieved in 13 patients. Most patients died of opportunistic infections. Eighteen consecutive patients with disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma were then randomly assigned to therapy with either recombinant alpha interferon or ABV/ADV. The treatment responses in these two groups were comparable to results of earlier trials, and the incidence of opportunistic infections during therapy did not differ between the two treatment arms. It is concluded that chemotherapy is effective and safe for use in palliative management of Kaposi's sarcoma in patients with AIDS.