Plasma HHV8 DNA predicts relapse in individuals with HIV-associated multicentric Castleman disease.

HIV-associated multicentric Castleman disease (HIV-MCD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder caused by infection with human herpesvirus-8. The disease follows a relapsing and remitting clinical course, with marked systemic symptoms during an active attack, which can prove fatal. Its incidence is rising, and new data indicate the utility of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab at inducing remissions in both first- and second-line settings, although biomarkers associated with relapse have not been previously identified.

A validated prognostic index predicting response to dexamethasone and diethylstilbestrol in castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: The objective of this study was to identify subgroups of patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who had a prolonged response to combined dexamethasone and diethylstilbestrol (DS) therapy by constructing a prognostic index.

Methods: Multivariate and cutoff point analyses with bootstrapping were performed 1 month after commencing DS therapy, and data were validated using an independent external dataset.

Results: The median overall survival for 145 patients was 18.

Prognostic significance of immune subset measurement in individuals with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma.

Purpose: A prognostic index for AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) diagnosed in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was based on routine clinical and laboratory characteristics. Because immune subset measurement is often performed in HIV-positive individuals, we examined whether these were predictive of mortality independently of the prognostic index, or could predict time to progression of KS.

Patients And Methods: We performed univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses on a data set of 326 individuals with AIDS-associated KS to identify immune subset covariates predictive of overall survival and time to progression.

A prognostic index for AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background: AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma remains common in individuals with HIV-1 infection in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We developed a simple model for predicting mortality on the basis of clinical characteristics present at the time of diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma.

Methods: Of 5873 individuals with HIV-1 infection, 326 (6%) developed Kaposi's sarcoma; for 262 (80%) this was their first AIDS-defining illness.