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
A Study to Evaluate TROP2 ADC LCB84 Single Agent and in Combination With an Anti-PD-1 Ab in Advanced Solid Tumors
This is a first-in-human, Phase 1/2 study to evaluate LCB84, a TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate, alone and in combination with an anti-PD-1 Ab, in dose escalation (Phase 1) followed by dose expansion (Phase 2). The study population in dose escalation (Phase 1) consists of patients with advanced solid tumors refractory to standard of care, or for whom no standard of care exists. After the MTD and/or RP2D for single agent LCB84 is determined, dose escalation cohorts with select tumor types will be enrolled. Combination LCB84 and anti-PD-1 Ab will be evaluated in dose escalation after a minimum of 2 dose levels of single agent LCB84 have established DLT safety, to determine the MTD and/or RP2D of combination LCB84 and anti-PD-1 Ab, and to continue into dose expansion cohorts in select tumor types.
Inguinal Node Sparing Radiotherapy For Patients With Early Stage Anal Cancer
The purpose of this study is to see whether avoiding preventative radiation to the groin in patients with normal sentinel node biopsy and PET-CT, is at least as effective treating cancer as giving preventative radiation to the groin for patients with anal canal cancer. The investigators also want to know if avoiding radiation to the groin will cause fewer side effects and better quality of life