scholarly journals High-dose zidovudine plus valganciclovir for Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus-associated multicentric Castleman disease: a pilot study of virus-activated cytotoxic therapy

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 117 (26) ◽  
pp. 6977-6986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas S. Uldrick ◽  
Mark N. Polizzotto ◽  
Karen Aleman ◽  
Deirdre O'Mahony ◽  
Kathleen M. Wyvill ◽  
...  

Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV)–associated multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is a lymphoproliferative disorder most commonly observed in HIV-infected patients. It is characterized by KSHV-infected plasmablasts that frequently express lytic genes. Patients manifest inflammatory symptoms attributed to overproduction of KSHV viral IL-6, human IL-6, and human IL-6. There is no standard therapy and no established response criteria. We investigated an approach targeting 2 KSHV lytic genes, ORF36 and ORF21, the protein of which, respectively, phosphorylate ganciclovir and zidovudine to toxic moieties. In a pilot study, 14 HIV-infected patients with symptomatic KSHV-MCD received high-dose zidovudine (600 mg orally every 6 hours) and the oral prodrug, valganciclovir (900 mg orally every 12 hours). Responses were evaluated using new response criteria. A total of 86% of patients attained major clinical responses and 50% attained major biochemical responses. Median progression-free survival was 6 months. With 43 months of median follow-up, overall survival was 86% at 12 months and beyond. At the time of best response, the patients showed significant improvements in C-reactive protein, albumin, platelets, human IL-6, IL-10, and KSHV viral load. The most common toxicities were hematologic. These observations provide evidence that therapy designed to target cells with lytic KSHV replication has activity in KSHV-MCD. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00099073.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 1660-1670
Author(s):  
Ramya Ramaswami ◽  
Kathryn Lurain ◽  
Mark N. Polizzotto ◽  
Irene Ekwede ◽  
Kirsta Waldon ◽  
...  

Abstract Kaposi sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)–associated multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) is a relapsing and remitting systemic lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by severe inflammatory symptoms most common among people living with HIV (PLWH). Patients with KSHV-MCD may present with concurrent KSHV-associated diseases, such as KS and/or primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). We evaluated clinical and immunologic characteristics, the effects of concurrent KSHV malignancies, and treatments from the largest prospective natural history study of participants with KSHV-MCD within the United States. Treatment options administered at investigator discretion included high-dose zidovudine with valganciclovir (AZT/VGC), rituximab, or rituximab with liposomal doxorubicin (R-Dox) during KSHV-MCD flares. Survival analyses and prognostic factors were explored for all participants. Sixty-two participants with HIV were enrolled, including 20 with KSHV-MCD alone, 34 with KSHV-MCD and KS, 1 with KSHV-MCD and PEL, and 7 with all KSHV-associated diseases. Forty-four percent of KSHV-MCD diagnoses were made at our institution. Forty-four participants received rituximab-based therapies, 20 of whom had maintenance AZT/VGC or interferon. Participants receiving R-Dox and then maintenance AZT/VGC had the highest 5-year progression-free survival (89%). Cytokine profiles during KSHV-MCD flares did not differ by the presence of concurrent KSHV-associated diseases. The 10-year survival was 71% (95% confidence interval [CI], 56% to 82%) for all participants. A concurrent diagnosis of PEL negatively impacted survival (PEL hazard ratio, 5.4; 95% CI, 1.8 to 16.8). KSHV-MCD is an underdiagnosed condition among PLWH, including those with KS. KSHV-MCD has an excellent prognosis with appropriate treatment. Physicians should be alert for patients with multiple KSHV diseases, which impact optimal treatment and survival outcomes. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00099073.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10588-10588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas S. Uldrick ◽  
Kathleen Wyvill ◽  
Cody Peer ◽  
Mark Niccolo Polizzotto ◽  
Deirdre O'Mahony ◽  
...  

10588 Background: Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal angioproliferative disorder. VEGFR2-3, PDGFR and c-kit are implicated in KS pathogenesis and inhibited by sorafenib (So). KS is commonly HIV-associated. The antiretroviral drug ritonavir (R) inhibits CYP3A4, and may affect So metabolism and tolerability. Methods: We performed a phase I study of So in KS. HIV+ patients (pts) were eligible if on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) for >3 months with progressive KS or >4 months with no KS regression. Dose level 1 for pts on R-containing cART (R1) was So 200 mg daily, for pts not receiving R (NR1) So 200 mg every 12 hours. Treatment cycles were 21 days. So pharmacokinetic assessment performed cycle 1 day 8. Adverse event (AE) grade (Gr) by CTCAE v3.0 (2006-10) and v4.0 (2011-12). KS response graded by modified ACTG criteria. Results: 10 pts, R1 (8), NR1 (2). Baseline characteristics: median (med) (range) age 49 (35-72), CD4 in HIV+ 500 cells/uL (35, 747), time on cART 9 months (3.5, 27), previous KS therapies 2 (0-5). 9 HIV-infected, 8/9 HIV viral load <50 copies/mL. 6 had KS-associated edema. Med number cycles 4 (1, 13). Common AE at least possibly attributable to So: anemia, AST/ALT elevation, lipase elevation, hypertension, proteinuria, fatigue, infection, voice alteration. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLT): R1- Gr3 asymptomatic elevated lipase (1), Gr4 thrombocytopenia (1, likely due to multicentric Castleman disease); NR1- Gr3 hand-foot syndrome not resolved by week 6 (1). Other Gr 3-4 AE: R1- hand-foot syndrome (1), Gr3 thrombocytopenia (1), Gr3 transient cerebral ischemia (1), Gr3 hypertension (1); NR1- Gr3 hypertension (2). Best response: partial response (PR) (2), stable disease (SD)(5), progressive disease (1), not evaluable (2). Med duration SD 12 weeks (5, 33). 5/6 with KS-associated edema had objective decrease in edema. R was not associated with clear difference in So CMax or AUC at steady state. Conclusions: Preliminary estimate of PR or better is 20%. Even in some cases where KS did not respond, KS-associated edema improved. However, So was relatively poorly tolerated, with DLT observed at R1 and NR1, and these doses did not yield better responses than established therapies. Additional studies evaluating R’s effect on So metabolites are warranted. Clinical trial information: NCT00287495.


2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-289
Author(s):  
I-Fan Lin ◽  
Jiun-Nong Lin ◽  
Tsung-Heng Tsai ◽  
Chao-Tien Hsu ◽  
Yu-Ying Wu ◽  
...  

Coexistence of multicentric Castleman disease and Kaposi sarcoma is rare and might be missed without an experienced pathologists’ interpretation. A 46-year-old man had been diagnosed with HIV infection and treated with combination antiretroviral therapy of dolutegravir/abacavir/lamivudine (Triumeq) for one year. The latest viral load was 49 copies/mL and CD4 T-cell count was 192 cells/uL. He was admitted due to fever off and on, splenomegaly, general lymphadenopathy, and severe thrombocytopenia for two months. Biopsy of a purplish skin lesion and gastric tissue showed Kaposi sarcoma. The pathology of inguinal lymph nodes revealed coexistence of Kaposi sarcoma and multicentric Castleman disease. The plasma Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus viral load was 365,000 copies/mL. During hospitalization, progressive pancytopenia and spiking fever persisted, and he died of multi-organ failure before completion of chemotherapeutic treatments with rituximab plus liposomal doxorubicin.


Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 100 (9) ◽  
pp. 3415-3418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Qing Du ◽  
Tim C. Diss ◽  
Hongxiang Liu ◽  
Hongtao Ye ◽  
Rifat A. Hamoudi ◽  
...  

Abstract Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is known to be associated with 3 distinct lymphoproliferative disorders: primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), multicentric Castleman disease (MCD), and MCD-associated plasmablastic lymphoma. We report 3 cases of a previously undescribed KSHV-associated lymphoproliferative disorder. The disease presented as localized lymphadenopathy and showed a favorable response to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Histologically, the lymphoproliferation is characterized by plasmablasts that preferentially involved germinal centers of the lymphoid follicles, forming confluent aggregates. They were negative for CD20, CD27, CD79a, CD138, BCL6, and CD10 but showed monotypic κ or λ light chain. Clusters of CD10+CD20+ residual follicle center cells were identified in some of the follicles. The plasmablasts were positive for both KSHV and EBV, and most of them also expressed viral interleukin-6 (vIL-6). Unexpectedly, molecular analysis of whole tissue sections or microdissected KSHV-positive aggregates demonstrated a polyclonal or oligoclonal pattern of immunoglobulin (Ig) gene rearrangement. The plasmablasts showed somatic mutation and intraclonal variation in the rearranged Ig genes, and one case expressed switched Ig heavy chain (IgA), suggesting that they originated from germinal center B cells. We propose calling this distinctive entity “KSHV-associated germinotropic lymphoproliferative disorder.”


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (19) ◽  
pp. 5344-5354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Guilluy ◽  
Zhigang Zhang ◽  
Prasanna M. Bhende ◽  
Lisa Sharek ◽  
Ling Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is associated with 3 different human malignancies: Kaposi sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman disease. The KS lesion is driven by KSHV-infected endothelial cells and is highly dependent on autocrine and paracrine factors for survival and growth. We report that latent KSHV infection increases the vascular permeability of endothelial cells. Endothelial cells with latent KSHV infection display increased Rac1 activation and activation of its downstream modulator, p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1). The KSHV-infected cells also exhibit increases in tyrosine phosphorylation of vascular endothelial (VE)–cadherin and β-catenin, whereas total levels of these proteins remained unchanged, suggesting that latent infection disrupted endothelial cell junctions. Consistent with these findings, we found that KSHV-infected endothelial cells displayed increased permeability compared with uninfected endothelial cells. Knockdown of Rac1 and inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulted in decreased permeability in the KSHV-infected endothelial cells. We further demonstrate that the KSHV K1 protein can activate Rac1. Rac1 was also highly activated in KSHV-infected endothelial cells and KS tumors. In conclusion, KSHV latent infection increases Rac1 and PAK1 activity in endothelial cells, resulting in the phosphorylation of VE-cadherin and β-catenin and leading to the disassembly of cell junctions and to increased vascular permeability of the infected endothelial cells.


Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 133 (16) ◽  
pp. 1720-1728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Ai-lin Zhao ◽  
Ming-hui Duan ◽  
Zhi-yuan Li ◽  
Xin-xin Cao ◽  
...  

Abstract Idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease (iMCD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder. The anti–interleukin 6 (IL-6) therapy siltuximab is not available everywhere, and is not effective for over one-half of patients. Alternative treatment approaches are urgently needed. In the first iMCD clinical trial directed against a target other than IL-6 signaling, we investigated a thalidomide-cyclophosphamide-prednisone (TCP) regimen in newly diagnosed iMCD patients. This single-center, single-arm, phase 2 study enrolled 25 newly diagnosed iMCD patients between June 2015 and June 2018. The TCP regimen (thalidomide 100 mg daily for 2 years; oral cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m2 weekly for 1 year; prednisone 1 mg/kg twice a week for 1 year) was administered for 2 years or until treatment failure. The primary end point was durable tumor and symptomatic response for at least 24 weeks. Twelve patients (48%) achieved the primary end point with no relapse, 3 patients (12%) demonstrated stable disease, and 10 patients (40%) were evaluated as treatment failure. Even when considering all patients, there were significant (P &lt; .05) improvements in median symptom score, IL-6 level, hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, albumin, and immunoglobulin G. Among responders, the median levels of all evaluated parameters significantly improved, to the normal range, after treatment. The regimen was well tolerated. One patient died of pulmonary infection and 1 patient had a grade 3 adverse event (rash); 2 patients died following disease progression. Estimated 1-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 60% and 88%, respectively. The TCP regimen is an effective and safe treatment of newly diagnosed iMCD patients, particularly when siltuximab is unavailable. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03043105.


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