Topical treatments of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions for anal cancer prevention
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare disease associated with infection by Human Papillomavirus (HPV). However, it is significantly more common among certain groups, including those living with HIV. The incidence of this cancer has risen over the past few decades. Strategies for prevention of anal cancer include the detection and treatment of precancerous anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). While ablative therapies like electrocautery and surgical excision are commonly used, they can be invasive, expensive, and associated with considerable morbidity. For those reasons, there is interest in the use of topical therapies in the treatment of anal HSIL. While no FDA-approved topical treatment currently exists, human subjects research has been conducted using 5% imiquimod, trichloroacetic acid, 5-fluorouracil, and 1% cidofovir. Recent research in mice has also examined the use of PI3K/mTOR inhibitors. Few studies have directly compared these treatments and their efficacies in the prevention of anal SCC. This review will explore the current literature to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the available topical treatments for anal HSIL.
Description
2024
License
Attribution 4.0 International