CLASSIC KAPOSI-SARCOMA - EXPERIENCE AT RABIN-MEDICAL-CENTER IN ISRAEL

Classic Kaposi sarcoma is an indolent cutaneous proliferative disease affecting mainly elderly people of Mediterranean and Jewish origin. Th e authors review the epidemiologic and clinical findings in Israeli pa tients with classic Kaposi sarcoma treated at the Institute of Oncolog y, Rabin Medical Center. A total of 123 patients were identified. The average age at diagnosis was 68 years (range, 20-90 years) and, as exp ected, there was a strong predominance of men (2.4:1). All but two pat ients were Jewish. The distribution of Ashkenazic Jews and Sephardic J ews was almost equal. Twenty-three patients (19%) had secondary malign ancies that were mostly solid tumors. The clinical course was indolent and rarely fatal (4% disease-related mortality). Multivariate analysi s revealed that non-Ashkenazic origin, age over 70 years, multiple les ions (>10), and immunocompromised conditions adversely affected surviv al. Radiotherapy for localized skin lesions yielded an 88% objective r esponse, with symptomatic relief in 95% of patients. Chemotherapy was similarly effective (76% response rate) in patients with disseminated disease. These data demonstrate the indolent nature of ;Classic Kaposi sarcoma which usually requires a less aggressive therapeutic approach than in the African and AIDS-related types of Kaposi sarcoma.