This information represents the views of the doctors and nurses serving on the American Cancer Society's Cancer Information Database Editorial Board. These views are based on their interpretation of studies published in medical journals, as well as their own professional experience.

The treatment information in this document is not official policy of the Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.

Your doctor may have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these general treatment options. Don't hesitate to ask him or her questions about your treatment options.

Treatment for KS is more effective than it was a couple of decades ago. Doctors now better understand what causes KS. Many clinical trials have been done to compare different approaches to treatment. Doctors have much more experience with KS than they did when this disease was quite rare. Choices about the best treatment options for each patient are based on the function of the immune system as well as the number, location and size of the KS lesions. The patient's general condition is also a major factor. The presence and severity of other serious medical conditions can make some treatments a poor choice. Some of the treatments used for KS are surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and biological therapy. In some cases, 2 or more of these treatments are used together.

Treating immune deficiency and related infections

The most important treatment for KS is to treat any immune deficiency that exists as well as any related infections. In people with AIDS, this means using highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (specific anti-HIV drugs). For many AIDS patients with KS, HAART may be the only treatment needed. for the KS. In organ-transplant patients who are immune suppressed because they are taking medicines, decreasing or changing the drugs may be helpful. New KS lesions are more likely to develop when a patient's blood test results for KS herpesvirus (KSHV) are positive. The risk of developing new lesions is lower when antiviral medicines such as ganciclovir or foscarnet are used. In contrast, existing lesions are relatively resistant to treatment with antiviral agents. KS lesions tend to get worse when patients develop infections with bacteria. Therefore, it is very important to take measures to prevent bacterial infections and to treat them promptly and effectively if they do occur.