Current research is looking for combinations of chemotherapy drugs that can reduce tumor resistance and allow more tumor cells to be killed, as well as new forms of immunotherapy. One recent experiment found that a combination of a toxin from a particular bacterium plus an immune system molecule causes KS tumors to shrink in mice.
Infrared coagulation: This treatment is fairly new and involves treating lesions with infrared light to stop the growth of lesions. This treatment is being tried at some hospitals and research is continuing to see how effective it is.
Photodynamic therapy: This is a treatment for AIDS-associated KS affecting the skin. A light-sensitive drug is injected into the lesion. A laser is then shone directly onto the lesion. The drug is activated by the laser, and destroys the cancer cells.
Liposomal chemotherapy: A new form of chemotherapy, called liposomal chemotherapy, is now sometimes used to treat KS. The chemotherapy drugs are contained in fat-based cells called liposomes. Liposomes are able to travel to the tumor site, where they release the drug.
The advantage of this type of chemotherapy is that hopefully, the drugs affect only tumor tissue, and not healthy tissue. This
translates to fewer side effects, which means treatment can be given over a longer period.
Human Papilloma Virus Anogenital Cancers
HIV-infected patients can develop squamous intraepithelial lesions of the uterine cervix (in women) and squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (in men). Associated with infection by oncogenic papilloma-virus, these tumors do not respond to available HIV therapy.
Early detection by frequent examination of women using PAP smears and colposcopic evaluations are important strategies for early diagnosis and treatment. Men at risk are considered candidates for proctologic evaluations as well as for PAP smears of the anus and anal canal. Contained tumors receive local treatment while invasive and/or advanced cases are treated with a combination of local and systemic approaches.
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