Latest Developments in the Treatment of Anal Cancer

This video reviews the standard of care for locally advanced anal carcinoma, examines new trials studying novel agents and immunotherapy in the advanced setting, and highlights the need for HPV vaccination for preventing the disease.

In this video, Cathy Eng, MD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, reviews the standard of care for locally advanced anal carcinoma, including options for chemotherapy, which is used concurrently with radiation therapy, and surgery for patients with bulky tumors and for those who aren’t cured with chemoradiotherapy.

In the metastatic setting, investigational trials are studying novel agents and immunotherapy-a recently published phase II trial found that 24% of treatment-refractory patients responded to nivolumab. These ongoing studies could change the way patients with advanced disease are treated.

Eng also highlights the need for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for the prevention of this disease as well as other HPV-related cancers.