OBJECTIVE

In sub-Saharan Africa, Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is the most common HIV-associated cancer. KS causes substantial morbidity, and treatment goals should emphasize quality of life (QOL). Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is indicated, and early chemotherapy significantly improves tumor regression. The effect of ART alone or with chemotherapy on QOL in treatment-naïve South Africans with HIV-associated KS was assessed.

METHODS

KAART (Kaposi Sarcoma AIDS Anti-Retroviral Therapy) is a randomized, controlled, open-label trial of ART versus ART plus chemotherapy. Crossover between arms was allowed for patients with progressive disease. Eighty-nine percent of patients had advanced tumor burden. Within KAART, QOL measured by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-QLQ-C30 questionnaire evaluated functional and symptom domains and global QOL. Intragroup changes between baseline and month 12 (Wilcoxon rank sign test), changes between the arms (Mann-Whitney test), and the relationship between responses, determined by AIDS Clinical Trial Group criteria and QOL measures (Kruskal-Wallis test), were evaluated. P values < .01 were considered significant.

RESULTS

QOL information was available for 111 of 112 patients. Significant improvements over 12 months were seen in global health status and functional scales (emotional, cognitive, and social scales; not physical and role function). Most symptom scales (fatigue, pain, dyspnea, insomnia, appetite, diarrhea, and constipation) also showed significant improvement. There were no statistically significant changes between arms in intention-to-treat analysis. Patients showing a response to the tumor (complete or partial) reported significantly increased global QOL ( P < .001), pain relief, and improved role functioning. Adherence, adverse events, HIV viral load, and CD4 count did not correlate with global QOL.

CONCLUSIONS

African patients with HIV-associated KS derive a significant benefit in QOL from ART and tumor regression.