What the trial was testing
The ANCHOR enrolled 4,446 patients with anal cancer. The study was sponsored by AIDS Malignancy Consortium and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
57% lower rate of anal cancer with treatment vs. active monitoring.
New England Journal of Medicine · 2022 · NCT02135419
These findings — that of progression to anal cancer over two years with treatment of high-grade lesions — were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 4,446 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with anal cancer, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
The treatments tested (office-based ablation, topical fluorouracil, or imiquimod) are all available now. Major guidelines now recommend that adults living with HIV aged 35 and older get screened for anal pre-cancer with anal cytology and high-resolution anoscopy. Ask an HIV specialist or colorectal surgeon about screening.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open anal cancer trials
Identification of Molecular Signatures of High-risk Oncogenic HPV and Study of Their Associations With the Presence of High-grade Lesions and/or Anal Cancer 10 Years After Inclusion in the ANRS IPERGAY Trial
HPVsign is a cross-sectional, non-comparative, multicenter study involving all participants included in the HPV substudy of the ANRS IPERGAY trial. The study proposes to evaluate the cumulative incidence of high-grade lesions and/or anal cancers using high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) during the HPVsign study and/or diagnosed since the end of participation in the ANRS IPERGAY trial.
Factors Affecting Wound Dehiscence in Pilonidal Sinus Surgery (ORIPIS)
The goal of this multicenter, prospective, observational study is to investigate factors associated with wound dehiscence following pilonidal sinus surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the proximity of the pilonidal sinus to the anal verge influence the risk of postoperative wound dehiscence? How do the morphological stage of the disease and the surgical technique used affect wound healing outcomes? Patients undergoing pilonidal sinus surgery as part of routine clinical care will be enrolled prospectively across multiple centers. Clinical, anatomical, and surgical characteristics-including anal proximity, morphological stage, and type of surgical technique-will be recorded. Participants will be followed postoperatively, and wound outcomes will be assessed to identify factors associated with wound dehiscence.