Preventing anal cancer in people living with HIV
Prevention of anal cancer in People Living with HIV (PLWH)
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 ID | NIH-11510008 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV who have anal intraepithelial neoplasia (anal dysplasia) or documented high-risk anal HPV would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Madison, United States
- 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
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 below.