Abstract
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) accounts for more than 15% of AIDSโrelated malignancies. The etiology of KS is unresolved but is postulated to be multiโfactorial, involving viruses and overexpression of cellular growth factors and/or oncogenes. Recently, herpesvirusโlike sequences (KSHV) were identified with high prevalence in AIDSโKS (AKS), endemic KS, and in classic KS biopsies (CKS). To confirm the presence and the prevalence of the KSHV sequences, 18 CKS and 13 AKS samples were tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. To our knowledge this is the highest number of CKS samples that has ever been included in a single study, and it is also important that the biopsies were obtained from different institutions and geographical locations. KSHV sequences were detected in 100% of the AKS samples and 72% of the CKS biopsies using PCR analysis. The presence of the unique KSHV sequences was confirmed by direct sequencing of representative PCR products obtained from AKS and CKS samples. Reverse transcriptase (RTIโPCR experiments showed that the KSHV sequences were transcribed to mRNA in both AKS and CKS samples. Our results confirm that the putative new herpesvirusโlike agent is associated with both AKS and CKS and may have an etiological role in the pathogenesis of this malignancy. ยฉ 1995 WiIeyโLiss, Inc.