This phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best dose of lenalidomide and to see how well it works in treating patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related Kaposi sarcoma (KS). Lenalidomide may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of single agent lenalidomide in subjects with AIDS-related KS. (Phase I) II. Evaluate the overall clinical response of KS tumors to lenalidomide with subset assessments of partial response (PR) and complete response (CR). (Phase II)

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Evaluate the effect of lenalidomide on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) plasma viral loads.

II. Determine the effects of lenalidomide on T-lymphocyte subsets, including natural killer (NK) cells.

III. Evaluation of time to response, time to relapse, and time to death amongst subjects receiving lenalidomide.

IV. Determine the effect of lenalidomide on human herpesvirus (HHV)-8. V. Assess lenalidomide effects on HHV-8 copy number in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), and plasma and whether changes in viral copy number measured in PBMC or plasma are associated with clinical response of KS tumors.

VI. Monitor HHV-8 gene expression in KS biopsy specimens and PBMC pre- and post-lenalidomide and assess whether changes in viral gene expression in tumor biopsy are associated with clinical response.

VII. Assess whether changes in viral copy number in the compartments assayed occur in concert or independently with changes in viral antigen expression in biopsy specimens.

VIII. Assess effects of lenalidomide on growth factors relevant to tumor proliferation (i.e., interleukin [IL]-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15, IL-12p70, tumour necrosis factor [TNF]alpha, and interferon gamma [IFN]gamma).

IX. Characterize the effects of lenalidomide on viral and cellular gene in KS tumor biopsies.

X. Assess changes in NK cell number (PBMC and tumor) and function pre- and post-lenalidomide.

XI. Assess the sensitivity and specificity of dermal adhesive strip samples to detect KS and the effects of lenalidomide on the lesions.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. This is a phase I, dose-escalation study of lenalidomide followed by a phase II study.

Patients receive lenalidomide orally (PO) once daily on days 1-21. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 12 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 30 days.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Biopsy-proven KS involving skin with or without visceral involvement either newly diagnosed or refractory to or intolerant of one or more prior therapies

• Patients must have cutaneous lesion(s) amenable to four 3 mm tumor biopsies during the study (either 4 separate lesions measuring > 4 mm each OR 2 separate lesions measuring > 8 mm each) and at least five additional lesions measurable for assessment with no improvement over the past month

• Serologic documentation of HIV infection by any of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved tests

• Karnofsky performance status >= 60%

• Hemoglobin >= 8 g/dL

• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1,000 cells/mm^3

• Platelet count >= 100,000/mm^3

• Calculated (method of Cockcroft-Gault) creatinine clearance (CrCl) >= 60 mL/min in the Phase I and CrCl >= 30 mL/min in the Phase II (creatinine clearance may also be obtained by the 24-hour collection method at the investigator's discretion)

• Total bilirubin should be =< 1.5x upper limit of normal (ULN); if, however, the elevated bilirubin is felt to be secondary to Atazanavir therapy, patients will be allowed to enroll on protocol if the total bilirubin is =< 3.5 mg/dL provided that the direct bilirubin is normal

• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT]) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase [SGPT]) =< 3x ULN

• Life expectancy >= 3 months

• Ability and willingness to give informed consent

• Females of childbearing potential (FCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test with a sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL within 10 - 14 days prior to and again within 24 hours prior to starting Cycle 1 of lenalidomide; further, they must either commit to continued abstinence from heterosexual intercourse or begin TWO acceptable methods of birth control: one highly effective method and one additional effective method AT THE SAME TIME, at least 28 days before starting lenalidomide, during receipt of lenalidomide, and 28 days after discontinuation of lenalidomide; FCBP must also agree to ongoing pregnancy testing; men must agree to use a latex condom during sexual contact with a FCBP even if they have had a successful vasectomy; all patients must be counseled at a minimum of every 28 days about pregnancy precautions and risks of fetal exposure

• Patients must, in the opinion of the investigator, be capable of complying with the protocol

• All patients must be on antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection with CD4 count > 50/mm^3 and viral load < 2,000 copies/mL; patients must be on a stable regimen for at least 12 weeks prior to study entry; patients may receive any FDA approved antiretroviral therapy except for zidovudine

  • There should be no evidence for improvement in KS in the 3 months prior to study entry, unless there is evidence for progression of KS in the 4 weeks immediately prior to study entry
  • If antiretroviral regimen contains zidovudine and viral load is suppressed (as measured by HIV viral load =< 200/mL), then antiretroviral therapy must be adjusted to a less toxic therapy not containing zidovudine and enrollment may proceed without waiting 12 weeks; if on zidovudine-containing therapy and viral load is not suppressed (as measured by HIV viral load >= 200/mL), then antiretroviral therapy must be adjusted to a less toxic regimen allowing for optimal viral suppression and must demonstrate stability for at least 12 weeks prior to study entry

• Patients with any history of pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep venous thrombosis (DVT) or predisposing clotting risk factors must be on anticoagulation at therapeutic dosing

Exclusion Criteria:

• Concurrent, acute, active opportunistic infection other than oral thrush or genital herpes within 14 days of enrollment

• Patients for whom front-line cytotoxic therapy is indicated (i.e. symptomatic visceral or pulmonary KS or symptomatic KS impairing functional status)

• Concurrent neoplasia requiring cytotoxic therapy

• Acute treatment for an infection (other than oral thrush or genital herpes) or other serious medical illness within 14 days of study entry

• Anti-neoplastic treatment for KS (including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, local therapy including topical 5-FU, biological therapy, or investigational therapy) within four weeks of study entry

• Any steroid treatment except for that required for replacement therapy in adrenal insufficiency or inhaled steroids for the treatment of asthma

• Patient is =< 2 years free of another primary malignancy; exceptions include the following:

  • Basal cell skin cancer
  • Cervical carcinoma in situ
  • Anal carcinoma in situ

• Previous local therapy of any KS-indicator lesion unless the lesion has clearly progressed since treatment; any prior local treatment to indicator lesions regardless of the elapsed time should not be allowed unless there is evidence of clear-cut progression of said lesion

• Use of any investigational drug or treatment within 4 weeks prior to enrollment

• Physical or psychiatric conditions that in the estimation of the investigator place the patient at high risk of toxicity or non-compliance

• Female patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding

• Patients with a history of DVT or PE within 1 year

• Patients requiring blood transfusions to maintain Hgb eligibility

• Patients on erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESA) unless also on therapeutic anticoagulation

• Patients with CD4 < 50 mm^3 and/or viral load > 2,000 copies/mL

• Patients on estrogen therapy unless also on therapeutic anticoagulation