Treatment of anal cancer precursor lesions can reduce cancer risk in HIV-infected people

In a randomized clinical trial with 4446 participants (called the Anal Cancer/HSIL Prognostic Study (ANCHOR) study, researchers found that by removing high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), the chance of anal cancer progression Significantly reduced
.

This trial is the first to show such findings, and it has been tested in 21 clinical locations across the United States
.

Because of the importance of these findings to public health, the results of the research are being prepared for peer review and are being shared

This study is a summary of decades of research on the history, prevention and treatment of anal cancer and its precursors
.

Joel Palefsky, MD, professor of medicine and lead researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, said that it also provides important information for the development of standard care guidelines for people at high risk of anal cancer, including screening and treatment of anal HSIL

Palefsky said: "ANCHOR's data shows for the first time that even in high-risk groups, anal cancer can be prevented, such as HIV-infected people, who often have HSIL, which is difficult to treat
.

" "Although this study was carried out by HIV carriers.

In 1991, Palefsky established the world's first clinic dedicated to the prevention of anal cancer in UCSF
.

Now known as the University of California San Francisco Anal Tumor Clinic Research and Education Center, it is currently located at the University of California San Francisco Medical Cancer Center in Mount Zion, San Francisco

In this study, HIV-infected people aged 35 years and older with precursor lesions were randomly divided into two groups: those who received treatment for the lesion or those who did not receive treatment and actively monitored the lesion
.

In most cases, treatment involves a technique called hyfrecation performed in the doctor's office, in which an electric current is directed at the HSIL area to remove it
.

Participants were reassessed every 3 to 6 months and compared the incidence of anal cancer between the two groups

Among HIV-infected people, the incidence of anal cancer is very high, similar to cervical cancer: both have a strong correlation with human papillomavirus, and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix will occur before this
.

The Cervical Cancer Prevention Program detects and treats cervical HSIL that is standard care and highly effective in reducing the risk of developing cervical cancer
.

The researchers pointed out that the main reason for considering HSIL treatment is to reduce the risk of anal cancer

---

---