Screening for early anal precancer in women with prior cervical, vaginal, or vulvar neoplasia

The effectiveness of screening women with lower genital tract neoplasia or cancers for anal cancer precursors

NIH-funded research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11191472

This project will see whether screening women with past cervical, vaginal, or vulvar precancers can find early anal precancers using HPV or cytology tests, including possible self-swabs.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11191472 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

If you join, researchers will offer anal screening to women who have had cervical, vaginal, or vulvar dysplasia or cancer to look for high-grade anal lesions before they become cancer. Screening may include a clinician-collected anal cytology test, HPV testing, or a patient-collected swab, followed by further exam and biopsy if tests suggest a problem. The team will track what proportion of participants have treatable precancers and will record any harms from screening and follow-up procedures. Results will help determine whether targeted anal screening should be offered to women like you with prior lower genital tract disease.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are women with a history of cervical, vaginal, or vulvar dysplasia or cancer, particularly those aged 50 years and older.

Not a fit: Women without any history of lower genital tract dysplasia or those who already have a diagnosis of invasive anal cancer are unlikely to benefit directly from this screening.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could detect anal precancers earlier in high-risk women so they can receive treatment that may prevent anal cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Anal cytology and HPV screening have been used in people with HIV and have identified precancers, but using these approaches specifically in women with lower genital tract neoplasia is less well studied.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome VirusAnal CancerAnus CancerCancer Cause
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.