Kaposi Sarcoma

 Kaposi sarcoma is a disease in which cancer cells are found in skin or mucous membranes that cover the wall of gastrointestinal(GI) tract from moth to anus including stomach and intestines-means the whole alimentary canal. These tumors appear as purple patches or nodules on the skin or on mucus membranes and can spread to lymph nodes and lungs. Kaposi sarcoma is more common in men and in patients with suppressed immune system.(For all types of cancer click here).

What cause Kaposi sarcoma?

Kaposi sarcoma is always caused by an infection with a virus called human herpes virus 8, which is also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpes virus(KSHV). The virus, which is in the same family as Epstein-Barr virus, is rare in United States. In fact, less than one percent of general US population is carrier. The virus and tumors are much more common in some other parts of world.

How the virus is initially acquired and spread is poorly understood, but scientists have identified four distinct populations that represent near all cases of disease. There is some evidence within those populations as to how KSHV is acquired and what causes some carrier to develop Kaposi sarcoma.

What are the risk factors for Kaposi Sarcoma?

The following factors can raise a person's risk of developing Kaposi Sarcoma:

• Ethnicity:   People of Jewish or Mediterranean descent, as well as equatorial Africans have higher risk of developing Kaposi sarcoma.
• Sex:   Men have higher risk of developing Kaposi sarcoma than females.
• Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8):   This virus, also called the Kaposi sarcoma herpes virus (KSHV) can cause Kaposi sarcoma. However, most people with HHV-8 infection do not develop Kaposi sarcoma. The cancer appears most often when a person with HHV-8 also has problems with their immune system function.
• Immune deficiency:   People with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) and people whose immune system are suppressed after organ transplantation have a higher risk of developing Kaposi sarcoma.
• Sexual activity:   Unprotected sexual activity can increase the risk of infection with HVV-8 as well as HIV, because these viruses are spread through body fluids such as semen, blood and sera.