Michel FOALEM1, Etienne ATENGUENA2, Joseph Francis NWATSOCK2, Faustin DONG A ZOK2
1Institut Supérieur de Technologie Médicale (ISTM) ; 2Hôpital Général de Yaoundé
CaHReF 2018, Yaoundé Congres hall, 08 – 11 January 2019 , OAU029
Background: Kaposi's sarcoma is a multifocal neoplastic process. Systemic chemotherapy is used in the treatment of disseminated, rapidly progressive forms and in cases with visceral involvement that are life-threatening. There is scarcity of data in Cameroon on the evolution of patients with Kaposi’s sarcoma managed withchemotherapy.
Objectif: The purpose of this study is to assess the outcome of patients with Kaposi's sarcoma treated with chemotherapy at the Yaoundé General Hospital
Methodology: We conducted a descriptive and retrospective study from February to May 2018, at the Medical Oncology Unit of the General Hospital of Yaoundé over a period of 5 years from January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2017. Were included records of patients with Kaposi's sarcoma who had received chemotherapy? The association between the variables was evaluated with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 84 patients were included, 61.90% of whom were male. The average age was 43.76. The association of Kaposi's sarcoma with HIV was found in 75% of the patients in our sample. The overall objective response rate was 74.20%. The most common toxicities were hematologic, with grade 3 and 4 neutropenia and anemia in 28.57% and 27.38% of patients respectively and a significant association in patients with positive HIV status (p = 0.013 and p = 0.014 respectively). The median progression-free survival was 8 months. Positive HIV serology was associated with a short progression-free survival (p = 0.018).
Conclusion/Recommandation: Kaposi’s sarcoma is associated with HIV in 3/4 patients in our sample. The doxorubicin - bleomycin - vincristine protocol is the most widely used. The response rate obtained is 74.20%. The most common toxicities are hematologic with significant association in patients with positive HIV status. Positive HIV serology is associated with a short progression-free survival. Future prospective studies are needed to evaluate the duration of the therapeutic response, and the factors associated with it.
Key Words: Kaposi, chemotherapy, response, toxicity, survival, Yaoundé.