As-Needed Vs Immediate Etoposide Chemotherapy in Combination With Antiretroviral Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate AIDS-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma in Resource-Limited Settings: A5264/AMC-067 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Abstract

Background:

Mild-to-moderate AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma (KS) often responds to antiretroviral therapy (ART) alone; the role of chemotherapy is unclear. We assessed the impact of immediate vs as-needed oral etoposide (ET) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals with mild-to-moderate KS initiating ART.

Methods:

Chemotherapy-naive, HIV type 1-infected adults with mild-to-moderate KS initiating ART in Africa and South America were randomized to ART (tenofovir/emtricitabine/efavirenz) alone (chemotherapy "as-needed" arm) vs ART plus up to 8 cycles of oral ET (immediate arm). Participants with KS progression on ART alone received ET as part of the as-needed strategy. Primary outcome was ordinal as follows: failure, stable, and response at 48 weeks. Secondary outcomes included time to initial KS progression, KS-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (KS-IRIS), and KS response.

Results:

Of 190 randomized participants (as-needed = 94, immediate = 96), the majority were men (71%) and African (93%). Failure (53.8% vs 56.6%), stable (16.3% vs 10.8%), and response (30% vs 32.5%) did not differ between arms (as-needed vs immediate) among those with week 48 data potential (N = 163, P = .91). Time to KS progression (P = .021), KS-IRIS (P = .003), and KS response (P = .003) favored the immediate arm. Twenty-five participants died (13%). Mortality, adverse events, CD4+ T-cell changes, and HIV RNA suppression were similar at 48 weeks.

Conclusions:

Among HIV-infected adults with mild-to-moderate KS, immediate ET provided early, nondurable clinical benefits. By 48 weeks, no clinical benefit was observed compared to use of ET as needed. Mortality was high and tumor response was low.

Clinical Trials Registration:

NCT01352117.

• Authors: Mina C Hosseinipour, Minhee Kang, Susan E Krown, Aggrey Bukuru, Triin Umbleja, Jeffrey N Martin, Jackson Orem, Catherine Godfrey, Brenda Hoagland, Noluthando Mwelase, Deborah Langat, Mulinda Nyirenda, John MacRae, Margaret Borok, Wadzanai Samaneka, Agnes Moses, Rosie Mngqbisa, Naftali Busakhala, Otoniel Martínez-Maza, Richard Ambinder, Dirk P Dittmer, Mostafa Nokta, Thomas B Campbell, A5264/AMC-067 REACT-KS Team
• Journal: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (Clin Infect Dis) Vol. 67 Issue 2 Pg. 251-260 (07 02 2018) ISSN: 1537-6591 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29365083 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Etoposide

Topics

• AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections (drug therapy)
• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Africa South of the Sahara
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (therapeutic use)
• Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
• Biopsy
• Etoposide (therapeutic use)
• Female
• HIV Infections (complications, drug therapy)
• Health Resources
• Humans
• Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome
• Male
• Sarcoma, Kaposi (drug therapy)
• Skin (pathology)
• South America