Role of Scatter Factor in Pathogenesis of Aids-Related Kaposi Sarcoma

Abstract

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is an enigmatic neoplasm that occurs commonly in several distinct clinical settings. The classic (endemic) form of KS most frequently occurs in certain Mediterranean Basin populations (especially Sephardic Jews) and African tribes (eg., Bantus) (Kaposi, 1872). An acquired form of KS occurs in patients treated with immunosuppressive agents, such as organ transplant recipients (Zibrob et al., 1980; Penn, 1987). Finally, the epidemic form of KS is found in association with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) (Havercos et al, 1985; Safai et al., 1985; Mitsuyasu, 1988). AIDS-related KS tumors do not occur uniformly in all AIDS patients, but are usually restricted to one particular subset, homosexual males. This finding has given rise to speculation that additional factors besides the AIDS virus [HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus-type 1)] may be involved in the pathogenesis of this tumor. These factors may include infection with a second virus, including members of the human papilloma virus (HPV) and herpesvirus families (Huang et al., 1992; Nickoloff et al., 1992; Chang et al., 1994). Several studies suggest AIDS-related KS differs biologically from other forms of KS. While classic KS usually behaves as a indolent low grade disease with a protracted clinical course, AIDS KS is often clinically aggressive. The latter may be associated with significant morbidity and, in its most aggressive form, lethality (Bacchetti et al., 1988; Azon et al., 1990; Payne et al., 1990; Errante et al., 1991).