Clinical corse of classic Kaposi’s sarcoma in HIV-negative patients treated with the HIV protease inhibitor indinavir.

HIV protease inhibitors (HIV-PI) have been shown to exert anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor actions independently from their antiretroviral effect. Based on these studies, HIV-seronegative patients with classic Kaposi’s sarcoma were treated with Indinavir and followed for clinical evolution, drug pharmacokinetics and KS biomarkers. A favorable clinical course was associated with high drug plasma levels, reduced production of basic fibroblast growth factor, lower numbers of circulating endothelial cell numbers, and a decrease of antibody titers against HHV8.