Intralesional vinblastine injections for the treatment of oral Kaposi's sarcoma: report of 10 patients with 2-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the use of intralesional vinblastine injections for the treatment of the intraoral lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma.

METHODS

Eighteen patients were treated with up to three intralesional injections of 0.1 mg/cc vinblastine.

RESULTS

All lesions responded to the local injections; 40% required one injection; 31%, two injections; and 29%, three injections. Large, exophytic lesions usually required the multiple injections. No complications were encountered, and the patients tolerated the protocol well. Ten patients were followed for 24 months. Eight died of their general disease during this period. Four patients developed new intraoral lesions, which were treated with, and responded favorably to, the three-injection protocol.

CONCLUSIONS

Intralesional vinblastine injections are an effective and useful treatment alternative for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated intraoral Kaposi's sarcoma.