BAY 43-9006 (Sorafenib) to Treat Patients With Kaposi's Sarcoma

* INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  1. Age 18 years or greater.
  2. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) pathologically confirmed by CCR Pathology. Patients with both HIV-associated and HIV-negative KS will be eligible.
  3. Either (1) at least 5 measurable cutaneous KS lesions with no previous local therapy, or (2) other measurable non-cutaneous disease that permits a response to be assessed.
  4. Patients with HIV-related KS must be receiving and be willing to comply with a regimen of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) consistent with DHHS treatment guidelines that either (1) utilizes 3 or more drugs or (2) attains suppression of HIV below the limit of detection (50 copies HIV/ml using Roche Amplicor Monitor assay or similar standard test).
  5. For patients with HIV-associated KS, KS lesions must either (1) be increasing during the 3 months prior to screening while the patient is receiving HAART or has unchanged suppression of HIV to below the limits of detection; or (2) must be stable for at least four months while the patient is taking highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
  6. ECOG performance status less than or equal to 2
  7. Life expectancy greater than 6 months
  8. The following hematologic parameters:
* Hemoglobin greater than 9 g/l
* WBC greater than 1000/mm(3)
* Platelets greater than 75,000/mm(3)
* PT and PTT less than or equal to 120% of control, unless the patient has the presence of a lupus anticoagulant

The following hepatic parameters:

* For patients not receiving protease inhibitor therapy: bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN). For patients receiving protease inhibitor therapy and for whom the elevated bilirubin is felt to be related to this therapy total bilirubin should be less than or equal to 3.7 mg/dl with a direct fraction less than or equal to 0.2 mg/dl.
* AST/GOT less than or equal to 2.5 times the ULN
* Either serum creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 mg/dl or measured creatinine clearance greater than 60 mL/min.
* Patients must be willing to use effective birth control.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Patients with extensive active or symptomatic pulmonary KS
2. Patients with symptomatic visceral KS, except for that involving the oral cavity
3. KS that appears to be improving after other therapy
4. Inability to provide informed consent
5. Patients requiring systemic therapy with ketoconazole or itraconazole
6. Cytotoxic chemotherapy or other specific KS therapy (except for antiretroviral therapy) within the past 3 weeks.
7. Prior therapy with BAY 43-9006
8. Known hypersensitivity to BAY 43-9006
9. Supraphysiologic doses of corticosteroids within 3 weeks
10. Pregnancy (because of unknown potential for fetal malformation)
11. Breast feeding (because of unknown potential for adverse infant developmental considerations)
12. Past or present history of malignant tumors other than KS unless: a) in complete remission for greater than or equal to 1 year from the time a response was first documented; b) completely resected basal cell carcinoma; or c) in situ squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix or anus
13. Evidence of severe or life-threatening infection within 2 weeks of entry into the study
14. Elevated lipase greater than 2 times the ULN or amylase greater than 2 times the ULN (unless documented to be of non-pancreatic origin or associated with macroamylasemia
15. Patients with any other abnormality that would be scored as a grade 3 or greater toxicity, except:

    * lymphopenia
    * direct manifestation of KS
    * direct manifestation of HIV infection, except for neurologic or cardiac manifestations.
    * direct manifestation of HIV therapy, except for neurologic or cardiac manifestations or those addressed elsewhere in the eligibility requirements or that would be scored as grade 4.
    * asymptomatic hyperuricemia
16. Any condition that, in the opinion of the principal Investigator or Study Chairperson would preclude the inclusion of a patient into this research study.
17. Patients must not have evidence of a bleeding diathesis.
18. Patients must not be on therapeutic coagulation. Prophylactic anticoagulation (i.e. low dose warfarin) of venous or arterial access devices is allowed provided that the requirements for PT and PTT are met.
19. Patients must not be taking cytochrome P450 enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (phenytoin, carbamazepine, and Phenobarbital), rifampin, or St. Johns Wort.
20. Patients are excluded if they have uncontrolled hypertension (diastolic blood pressure greater than 99 mm Hg or systolic blood pressure greater than 159 mm Hg)
21. Patients are excluded if they have uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
22. Patients must be able to understand and be willing to sign a written informed consent document, and express willingness and the ability to comply with the requirements of the protocol.