Abstract

HERNANDEZ, Dimas E. Sarcoma De Kaposi Epidémico: 1. Polimorfismo Genético Del Virus Herpes Humano 8. 2. Actividad Farmacológica Diferencial De La Doxorubicina Liposomal. Rev. venez. oncol. [online]. 2005, vol.17, n.2, pp.68-78. ISSN 0798-0582.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the present paper are: 1. The study of the genetic polymorphism of the human herpes virus 8 in a group of patients with "low risk" Kaposi’s sarcoma. 2. The study of differential pharmacologic activity of liposomal doxorubicin in patients with "high risk" Kaposi’s sarcoma, gastrointestinal and cutaneous. methods: Nine homo or bisexual male patients with "low risk" Kaposi’s sarcoma were included in the study. The DNA was extracted from cutaneous biopsies and amplified through the PCR using specific primers for the HHV8 ORF26. 2. Fifteen homo or bisexual male patients with "high risk" Kaposi’s sarcoma, gastrointestinal and cutaneous were included. They were treated with 6 cycles of doxorubicina liposomal. RESULTS: 1. Subtype B was found in 5 (56 %) patients, subtype C in 3 (33 %) and subtype A in 1 (11 %). 2. Eleven (73 %) patients achieved a complete response of the gastrointestinal lesions and 4 (27%) a partial response; 2 (13 %) patients showed a complete response of the cutaneous lesions, 6 (40 %) a partial response and 7 (47 %) stabilized the disease (P< 0.00035). CONCLUSIONS: There is a genetic polymorphism of the human herpes virus 8 in venezuelan patients and looks like similar to the brazilian and african reports. The B and C subtypes are correlated with a benign evolution of the disease. The doxorubicina liposomal is very effective in extensive gastrointestinal Kaposi’s sarcoma lesions in comparison with cutaneous ones.

Keywords : Kaposi’s sarcoma; AIDS; genetic polymorphism; liposomal doxorubicin.