Role of pegylated lyposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in systemic Kaposi's sarcoma: a systematic review

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2006 Apr-Jun;19(2):253-63. doi: 10.1177/039463200601900202.

Abstract

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a form of skin cancer that can involve internal organs. It is often found in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and can be fatal. Kaposi's sarcoma produces pink, purple or brown tumors on the skin, mucous membranes or internal organs. Treatment goals for KS are simple: to reduce the severity of the symptoms, shrink tumors and prevent disease progression. Unfortunately, there is no single best treatment-plan that can achieve all these goals. With widespread KS lesions over the body surface or evidence of spreading to other parts of the body, the physicians need to treat the patients with systemic chemotherapy. A new class of drugs, called liposomal anthracyclines, appears to produce good results with fewer toxic side effects than more conventional cytotoxic drugs. One of these drugs, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) has become the treatment of choice. This article summarizes all the studies with PLD in systemic Kaposi's sarcoma.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Anthracyclines / therapeutic use
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Doxorubicin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use*
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Anthracyclines
  • liposomal doxorubicin
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Doxorubicin