Preventing anal cancer in people living with HIV
Official title: Prevention of anal cancer in People Living with HIV (PLWH)
Funded at Wm S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hosp · NIH-11510008 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A topical form of HIV protease inhibitors is being tried to clear precancerous anal changes in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wm S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2021 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005608-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11510008 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV who have anal intraepithelial neoplasia (anal dysplasia) or documented high-risk anal HPV would be the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without anal HPV infection or without precancerous anal lesions, and those with established invasive anal cancer, would not be expected to benefit from this preventive topical approach.
What this research studies
Researchers are working to stop HPV-driven anal cancer by treating precancerous anal dysplasia with a drug applied directly to the anal area. In the lab they use validated HPV-transgenic mouse models and a new conditional transgenic model to study how the drug works. Laboratory findings show HIV protease inhibitors can break down HPV proteins that block normal cell cleanup (autophagy) and restore protective p53 activity. The team is using VA patient data and samples to guide the work and hopes to move to human testing if preclinical results support safety and effectiveness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a safer, targeted topical treatment to clear precancerous anal lesions and reduce the risk of anal cancer in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Related lab studies support the mechanism—HIV protease inhibitors can degrade HPV oncoproteins and restore p53/autophagy pathways—but topical treatment for preventing anal cancer in humans remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Wm S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hosp
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carchman, Evie — Wm S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hosp
- Study coordinator: Carchman, Evie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Integrated approach to preventing anal cancer in HIV+ MSM through screening and treatment of HSIL
This project tests a streamlined plan to prevent anal cancer in people living with HIV by screening for HSIL and treating it at clinics serving MSM.
-
Screening strategies to find anal cancer precursors in high-risk people
Researchers will study markers from DNA methylation and immune signals to better identify people at risk for anal cancer before it develops.
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Integrated approach to preventing anal cancer in HIV-positive MSM through HSIL screening and treatment
This project tests a proven HSIL screening-and-treatment approach to prevent anal cancer in men living with HIV, using Ghana/Nigeria-based sites to learn how to implement it broadly.
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Better screening for anal cancer in people at higher risk
This project looks for biological and immune signals that could spot early precancerous changes in people at high risk for anal cancer.
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Screen-and-treat program to prevent anal cancer in people with HIV
This project offers regular anal screening and treatment to men who have sex with men living with HIV to lower their risk of anal cancer.
-
Anal cancer screening for people with HIV using genomic methods
A patient-centered screening approach using a genomic test to detect anal precancers in people with HIV, aiming to catch disease earlier and reduce unnecessary procedures.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.