IGF1R and AIDS: Here, we show the presence of the IGF-IR in biopsies taken from patients with AIDS/HIV-related KS, and further demonstrate that the IGF system is essential for cell growth and for mediating antiapoptotic signals in a KS cell line (KSIMM) that has the characteristics of the KS SCs and produce large highly vascularised tumours when injected s.c. in nude mice (Albini et al, 1997).