788 Comparison of liposomal entrapped doxorubicin (LED) with bleomycin and vincristine (BV) in the treatment of aids-related Kaposi's sarcoma

Abstract

Between July 91 and Sept 94 106 patients were commenced on treatment with BV or LED (Dox SL LTI) on 123 occasions. Treatment was initiated with LED on 68 occasions with 56 patients and with BV on 55 occasions with 51 patients. Both groups of patients were comparable in terms of age, Karnofsky score and ACTG poor prognosis criteria (JCO: 7(9). 1201–1207. 1989). In total 585 cycles of chemotherapy were given (BV-268, LED-317). Median number of cycles for BV is 5 (1–15) and median number for LED is 4 (1–14). Overall response rate for BV is 65.4% (36/55) with 58.2% (32/55) partial responses (PRs) and 7.2% (4/55) complete responses (CRs). Overall response rate for LED is 72% (49/68) with 64.7% (44/68) PRs and 7.3% (5/68) CRs. There is no statistical difference in response rate between the two groups (Chi squared test). Median response duration measured from completion of chemotherapy is 8 weeks for BV (4–48) and 8 weeks for LED (1–24). (Kaplan Meier and Log Rank assessment). Median cycle to response is 3 for BV (1–6) and 2 for LED (2–4). In summary LED offers an equivalent response rate and duration of response to conventional chemotherapy for AIDS related KS.