Could a cancer drug tame kaposi sarcoma in HIV patients?
NCT ID NCT03601806
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This completed Phase II trial tested the drug pomalidomide in 26 HIV-positive adults with Kaposi sarcoma, a type of skin cancer common in Sub-Saharan Africa. Pomalidomide works by boosting the immune system and blocking blood vessel growth that feeds tumors. Researchers measured how many participants responded to treatment and tracked 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
- Pomalidomide (a drug that boosts the immune system and blocks tumor blood vessel growth)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a new treatment option for Kaposi sarcoma in people with HIV, especially in regions with limited access to standard therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial (Phase II) with only 26 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Side effects like serious toxicities are possible, and the drug may not work for everyone.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Moi University School of Medicine
Eldoret, Kenya
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UNC Project Malawi
Lilongwe, Malawi
-
Uganda Cancer Institute
Kampala, Uganda
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