Nicotine Skin Patch in Treating Patients With Kaposi's Sarcoma

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2006-08-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

RATIONALE: Nicotine may stimulate the immune system to kill Kaposi's sarcoma cells.

PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying the side effects and how well the nicotine skin patch works in treating patients with Kaposi's sarcoma.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Treatments: Nicotine

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically proven classic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)

• At least 2 KS lesions that can be measured (minimum diameter 0.5 cm to maximum diameter 3 cm) and located on body sites (leg, arm, torso, dorsum of foot or hand) to which a patch can be applied

• A third measurable lesion (if available) of the same size can be located on any body site

• KS lesions must be separated by at least 8.0 cm at their centers and 6.0 cm at closest edges

• Patient must be a nonsmoker

• No smoking, chewing, or other use of tobacco within the past year

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• HIV antibody negative

• Willing to shower or bathe no more than every other day

• No life-threatening conditions

• Not pregnant

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

• Chronic conditions (e.g., hypertension or diabetes) must be stable and well controlled

• No history of HIV/AIDS, unstable angina pectoris, or claudication

• ECOG performance status 0-1

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior biopsy of the selected KS lesion(s) within the past 90 days

• No prior systemic therapy for KS within the past 90 days

• No concurrent systemic or local conventional treatment for KS

• No prior use of a nicotine product within the past year

• No prior surgery, chemotherapy, biologic therapy, or radiotherapy within the past 90 days

• No prior organ allograft