Treatment of Classical Non-HIV-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma With the Antiviral Drug Indinavir

Summary

Recent studies have described a reduced incidence or the regression of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in HIV-infected patients treated with the highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) that contains at least one inhibitor of the HIV protease (HIV-PI) such as Indinavir. Experimental studies have shown that part of the anti-KS actions of HIV-PI are not related to their antiretroviral actions, but, at least in part, to their capability of blocking angiogenesis and tumor growth. This study will be conducted on HIV-negative (classical) KS patients to prove that Indinavir has anti-angiogenic and anti-KS effects in humans independently of its antiretroviral activity.

Timeline

Start

2003-06

Primary completion

—

Completion

2007-07

Publications

• Background Monini P, Sgadari C, Toschi E, Barillari G, Ensoli B. Antitumour effects of antiretroviral therapy. Nat Rev Cancer. 2004 Nov;4(11):861-75. doi: 10.1038/nrc1479.
• Background Sgadari C, Barillari G, Toschi E, Carlei D, Bacigalupo I, Baccarini S, Palladino C, Leone P, Bugarini R, Malavasi L, Cafaro A, Falchi M, Valdembri D, Rezza G, Bussolino F, Monini P, Ensoli B. HIV protease inhibitors are potent anti-angiogenic molecules and promote regression of Kaposi sarcoma. Nat Med. 2002 Mar;8(3):225-32. doi: 10.1038/nm0302-225.

Drugs

Indications