Treating High-grade Lesions to Prevent Anal Cancer in HIV-infected People
March 11, 2015
Why This Trial Is Important
This study, called the ANCHOR (Anal Cancer/HSIL Outcomes Research) trial, will investigate whether screening and prevention methods similar to those used to prevent cervical cancer can help prevent anal cancer in HIV-infected men and women.
Although anal cancer is rare, people with HIV are much more likely to develop it than people in the general population. Women with HIV are 24 times more likely to develop anal cancer than women who are HIV negative. The risk of anal cancer is 32 times higher for HIV-infected men than that of men in the general population collectively and 52 times higher for HIV-infected men who have sex with other men. Moreover, the incidence of anal cancer has been increasing, in part because antiretroviral treatments are helping HIV-infected people live longer. Read more.