Treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma by combination of actinomycin‐D, vincristine and imidazole carboxamide (NSC‐45388): Results of a randomized clinical trial

Previous trials at our Institute revealed the effectiveness of actinomycin‐D and vincristine in the treatment of Kaposi's Sarcoma. We herein report the results of a further randomized trial designed to test the efficacy of the three‐drug combination consisting of actinomycin‐D, vincristine and imidazole carboxamide and to compare the results with those obtained by combining actinomycin‐D and vincristine only for all forms of Kaposi's Sarcoma. Of the 40 patients treated with two drugs, 22 (55%) achieved complete tumour regression, 13 (32.5%) had partial response and 5 (12.5%) did not respond. On the other hand, 30 out of 32(94%) of those receiving three drugs had complete tumour regression, one had partial and one had no response. There is a significantly higher complete response rate (p<0.002) in the group receiving three drugs than in that receiving two drugs. The side effects encountered were comparable. Copyright © 1974 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company