Your gift is 100% tax deductible
Treating Kaposi Sarcoma
If you’ve been diagnosed with Kaposi sarcoma (KS), your treatment team will discuss your options with you. It’s important to weigh the benefits of each treatment option against the possible risks and side effects.
Types of treatment for Kaposi sarcoma
For people with KS who have immune system problems, the most important treatment is keeping the immune system healthy and controlling any related infections.
Other treatments can also be used if needed. Some people might get 2 or more types of treatment together.
Who treats Kaposi sarcoma?
Based on your treatment options, you might have different types of doctors on your treatment team. These doctors could include:
- An infectious disease specialist: a doctor who treats infectious diseases such as HIV and AIDS
- A dermatologist: a doctor who treats diseases of the skin
- A radiation oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy
- A medical oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with medicines such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy
You might have many other specialists on your treatment team as well, including physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), nurses, nutrition specialists, social workers, and other health professionals.
How is Kaposi sarcoma treated?
Kaposi sarcoma (KS) usually can’t be cured completely because the virus that causes it, Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV), stays in your body for life once you are infected. Still, treatment can often keep it under control.
Deciding which treatment is best for your Kaposi sarcoma (KS) will depend on several factors, including:
- The type of KS you have (which helps predict how fast it may grow and spread)
- The number and location of your KS lesions
- If the KS lesions are causing symptoms or other problems
- How well your immune system is working
- What other health issues you have
If your KS isn’t causing bothersome symptoms, you may not need treatment right away. In these cases, doctors may watch the lesions closely (called observation or surveillance) and treat them only if they start to cause problems.
Treating HIV-related Kaposi sarcoma
If you have HIV-related KS, the most important part of treating the KS is controlling your HIV infection with antiretroviral therapy (ART), a combination of anti-HIV drugs. In many people, KS lesions shrink as their immune system gets stronger, and ART may be the only treatment needed to control KS.
If your KS lesions are still painful, bothersome, or continue to grow, other treatments may be added.
If there are only a few skin lesions causing problems, a local treatment may be used:
- Intralesional chemotherapy – injecting chemo directly into the lesion(s)
- Cryosurgery/cryotherapy – freezing the lesion
- Applying a topical medicine such as a retinoid (a vitamin A-related drug)
- Radiation therapy
If leg swelling (lymphedema) is a problem, compression stockings can often help.
If your KS is more widespread, chemotherapy may be added to ART. This might be advised for people with:
- Many skin or mouth lesions, especially if they are painful, swollen, or oozing
- Severe swelling (lymphedema) from KS lesions
- Lung lesions causing shortness of breath
- Lesions in the stomach and intestines causing anemia (a low red blood cell count), weight loss, or other problems
The chemo drugs most often used first are liposomal doxorubicin or paclitaxel. If one doesn’t work, the other can be tried. Other chemo drugs might also be options.
If needed, immunotherapy might be an option at some point, including:
- An immunomodulating drug such as pomalidomide or lenalidomide
- A checkpoint inhibitor such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab
Treating classic Kaposi sarcoma
Classic KS tends to grow and spread slowly, so treatment isn’t always needed right away. Still, most people will need treatment at some point. Depending on the extent and location of your KS lesions, treatment might be local or systemic (affecting your whole body).
If only a few KS skin lesions are causing problems, you might get local treatments to shrink or remove them:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Cryosurgery/cryotherapy – freezing the lesion
- Intralesional chemotherapy – injecting chemo directly into the lesion(s)
- Applying topical medicines
If leg swelling (lymphedema) is a problem, compression stockings can often help.
Chemotherapy may be used for more widespread skin lesions or for KS in your lungs or digestive tract.
The chemo drugs most often used first are liposomal doxorubicin or paclitaxel. If one doesn’t work, the other can be tried. Other chemo drugs might also be options.
Immunotherapy drugs might be an option at some point, including:
- An immunomodulating drug such as pomalidomide or lenalidomide
- A checkpoint inhibitor such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab
Treating transplant-related Kaposi sarcoma
People who’ve had an organ transplant can sometimes develop KS because of the medicines they take to suppress their immune system.
Changing your immune-suppressing medicines can often help keep KS lesions under control. This might involve using lower doses or switching to a drug called an mTOR inhibitor, such as sirolimus or everolimus.
Skin lesions can be treated with local treatments such as:
- Intralesional chemotherapy (injecting chemo directly into the lesion)
- Cryosurgery/cryotherapy (freezing the lesion)
- Applying a topical medicine such as a retinoid (a vitamin A-related drug)
- Radiation therapy
If leg swelling (lymphedema) is a problem, compression stockings can often help.
If your KS is more widespread, chemotherapy or immunotherapy might be needed. But these medicines must be given carefully to people who’ve had organ transplants because they can affect the immune system, which in turn could affect the transplanted organ.
Treating endemic Kaposi sarcoma
Endemic KS is typically treated similarly to classic KS (see above). In regions with more limited medical resources, doctors may focus on the treatments that are most available and practical, such as local treatments for skin lesions or basic supportive care.
Making treatment decisions
It’s important to discuss your treatment options with your cancer care team so you can make the decision that best fits your needs. This includes talking about the goals and possible side effects of each treatment. You may feel that you need to decide quickly, but it’s important to give yourself time to absorb the information you learn.
Ask your cancer care team questions if you are unsure about anything.
Questions to ask before Kaposi sarcoma treatment
Understanding your diagnosis and choosing a treatment plan
- What are my treatment options?
- What do you recommend and why?
- How much experience do you have treating Kaposi sarcoma?
- What would the goal of treatment be?
- What are the chances the cancer will go away with these treatment plans?
- How quickly do we need to decide on treatment?
- Should I get a second opinion? How do I do that?
What to expect during treatment
- What should I do to be ready for treatment?
- How long will treatment last?
- What will it be like? Where will it be done?
- Do I need to change what I eat during treatment?
- How might treatment affect my work schedule or daily activities?
- Can I exercise during treatment? If so, what kind should I do and how often?
- Are there any limits on what I can do?
- How will we know if the treatment is working?
- What will we do if the treatment doesn’t work or stops working?
Side effects and long-term effects
- What risks or side effects are there to the treatments you suggest?
- Is there anything I can do to help manage side effects?
- What symptoms or side effects should I tell you about right away?
- How can I reach you on nights, holidays, or weekends?
Support and resources
- Who can I talk to about finding ways to help pay for treatment?
- What if I have transportation issues getting to and from treatment?
- Can you suggest a mental health professional I can see if I start to feel overwhelmed, depressed, or distressed?
- Are there other sources of social support, such as people who’ve been through this before?
Other things to consider
Seeking a second opinion: If time allows, consider getting a second opinion to feel more confident about the treatment plan you choose.
Clinical trials: Clinical trials study new treatments and may offer access to promising options not widely available. They are also how doctors learn better ways to treat cancer. Cancer centers often conduct many clinical trials at any one time. Many people treated at these centers take part in a clinical trial as part of their treatment. If you would like to learn more about clinical trials that might be right for you, start by asking the treatment team if your clinic or hospital conducts clinical trials.
Integrative and alternative methods: You may hear about herbs, diets, acupuncture, massage, or other ways to relieve your symptoms or treat your cancer. Integrative (holistic) methods are used along with standard care, while alternative methods are used instead of standard care. Some may help with symptoms, but many aren’t proven to work and could even be harmful. Talk with your care team first to make sure anything you're considering is safe and won’t interfere with treatment.
Help getting through cancer treatment
Your cancer care team will be your first source of information and support, but there are other resources for help when you need it. Hospital or clinic-based support services can also be an important part of your care. This might include nursing or social work services, financial aid, nutritional advice, rehab, or spiritual help. For people with cancer and their families, other specialists can be an important part of care as well.
The American Cancer Society also has programs and services to help you get through treatment, including rides to treatment, lodging, and more. Contact the ACS Cancer Helpline for more information.
Choosing to stop treatment or choosing no treatment at all
For some people, when treatments have been tried and are no longer controlling the cancer, it could be time to weigh the benefits and risks of continuing to try new treatments. Whether or not you continue treatment, there are still things you can do to help maintain or improve your quality of life.
Some people, especially if the cancer is advanced, might not want to be treated at all. There are many reasons you might decide not to get cancer treatment, but it’s important to talk to your doctors as you make that decision. Remember that even if you choose not to treat the cancer, you can still get supportive care to help with pain or other symptoms.
People who have advanced cancer and who are expected to live less than 6 months may want to consider hospice care. Hospice care is designed to provide the best possible quality of life for people who are near the end of life. You and your family are encouraged to talk with your doctor or a member of your supportive care team about hospice care options, which include hospice care at home, a special hospice center, or other health care locations. Nursing care and special equipment can make staying at home a workable option for many families.
The treatment information given here is not official policy of the American Cancer 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 your cancer care team any questions you may have about your treatment options.
- Written by
- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Anampa J, Barta SK, Haigentz M, Sparano JA. Ch. 62: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection and Cancer. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020.
Bettuzzi T, Lebbe C, Grolleau C. Modern approach to manage patients with Kaposi sarcoma. J Med Virol. 2025 Mar;97(3):e70294.
Groopman JE. AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma: Staging and treatment. UpToDate. 2025. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/aids-related-kaposi-sarcoma-staging-and-treatment on October 3, 2025.
Krown SE, Singh JC. Classic Kaposi sarcoma: Clinical features, staging, diagnosis, and treatment. UpToDate. 2025. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/classic-kaposi-sarcoma-clinical-features-staging-diagnosis-and-treatment on October 3, 2025.
National Cancer Institute. Kaposi Sarcoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version. 2025. Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/types/soft-tissue-sarcoma/hp/kaposi-treatment-pdq on October 3, 2025.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines): Kaposi Sarcoma. Version 2.2026. Accessed at www.nccn.org on October 3, 2025.
Ramaswami R, Lurain K, Yarchoan R. Oncologic treatment of HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma 40 years on. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(3):294-306.
Last Revised: December 5, 2025
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
American Cancer Society Emails
Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the American Cancer Society.
