Phase II study of teniposide in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma

Abstract

Antitumour activity of cytotoxic agents, evaluated in patients with AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), is about 30–80%. However, responses are mostly partial and short. Experience with etoposide is similar. Teniposide has a longer elimination half-life and superior antitumour activity compared with etoposide in some experimental models. Thus a phase II trial was done in 25 patients with AIDS-related KS. Teniposide was given by 60-min infusion at 360 mg/m² every 3 weeks. 10 (40%) showed a partial response, median duration of 9 (6–20) weeks. The main side-effects were leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea and vomiting, alopecia and mucositis.