Could an old HIV drug beat kaposi sarcoma?

NCT ID NCT03077451

Completed Disease control Sponsor: AIDS Malignancy Consortium Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This pilot phase 2 trial tested the HIV drug nelfinavir in 36 people with Kaposi sarcoma, a type of cancer. The goal was to see if the drug could shrink or eliminate skin lesions. Researchers looked at how well the drug worked in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants, and monitored side effects.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: nelfinavir mesylate (an HIV drug repurposed as a cancer treatment)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a new, affordable treatment option for Kaposi sarcoma, especially for patients who have not responded to other therapies.
What could go wrong: This is a small pilot study with only 36 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The drug may cause side effects or fail to shrink tumors effectively.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Kaposi's sarcoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

RECURRENT KAPOSI SARCOMA SKIN KAPOSI SARCOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

African Cancer Institute, Stellenbosch University

Cape Town, South Africa
Baylor College of Medicine

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason Medical Center

Seattle, Washington, 98101, United States
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Emory University/Grady Hospital

Atlanta, Georgia, 30308, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, 10065, United States
Montefiore Medical Center

The Bronx, New York, 10461, United States
Ohio State University

Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins

Baltimore, Maryland, 21231-2410, United States
Uganda Cancer Institute

Kampala, Uganda
University of Miami

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
Washington University School of Medicine

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

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