Association of HIV Status With Outcomes of Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Era of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

State of the science and future directions for research on HIV and cancer: Summary of a joint workshop sponsored by IARC and NCI

An estimated 38 million people live with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide and are at excess risk for multiple cancer types. Elevated cancer risks in people living with HIV (PLWH) are driven primarily by increased exposure to carcinogens, most notably oncogenic viruses acquired through shared transmission routes, plus acceleration of viral carcinogenesis by HIV-related immunosuppression. In the era of widespread antiretroviral therapy (ART), life expectancy of PLWH has increased, with cancer now a leading cause of co-morbidity and death. Furthermore, the types of cancers occurring among PLWH are shifting over time and vary in their relative burden in different parts of the world. In this context, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) convened a meeting in September 2022 of multinational and multidisciplinary experts to focus on cancer in PLWH. This report summarizes the proceedings, including a review of the state of the science of cancer descriptive epidemiology, etiology, molecular tumor characterization, primary and secondary prevention, treatment disparities and survival in PLWH around the world. A consensus of key research priorities and recommendations in these domains is also presented.

Survival by sex and HIV status in patients with anal cancer in the USA between 2001 and 2019: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The risk of anal cancer is increased among people with HIV, particularly men who have sex with men. Estimating survival by HIV status and sex and identifying groups at high risk is crucial for documenting prognostic differences between populations. We aimed to compare all-cause and anal cancer-specific survival in patients with anal cancer with and without HIV, stratified by sex, and to identify predictors of survival, stratified by HIV status.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, we used data from the HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study of 13 population-based HIV and cancer registries throughout the USA. We included individuals aged 20-79 years diagnosed with invasive anal cancer between 2001 and 2019. To estimate associations between HIV status and both all-cause and anal cancer-specific mortality overall, we used Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for year of and age at diagnosis, sex, race and ethnicity, histology, cancer stage, region, and treatment. We also calculated sex-specific adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). By HIV status, we identified characteristics associated with mortality. Models among people with HIV were further adjusted for AIDS status and HIV transmission risk group.

FINDINGS

Between Jan 1, 2001, and Dec 31, 2019, 1161 (43·6%) of 2662 patients with anal cancer and HIV and 7722 (35·4%) of 21 824 patients without HIV died. HIV was associated with a 1·35 times (95% CI 1·24-1·47) increase in all-cause mortality among male patients and a 2·47 times (2·10-2·90) increase among female patients. Among patients with HIV, all-cause mortality was increased among non-Hispanic Black individuals (adjusted HR 1·19, 95% CI 1·04-1·38), people with AIDS (1·36, 1·10-1·68), people who inject drugs (PWID; 1·49, 1·17-1·90), patients with adenocarcinoma (2·74, 1·82-4·13), and those with no or unknown surgery treatment (1·34, 1·18-1·53). HIV was associated with anal cancer-specific mortality among female patients only (1·52, 1·18-1·97). Among patients with HIV, anal cancer-specific mortality was increased among patients with adenocarcinoma (3·29, 1·89-5·72), those with no or unknown treatment (1·59, 1·17-2·17), and PWID (1·60, 1·05-2·44).

INTERPRETATION

HIV was associated with all-cause mortality among patients with anal cancer, especially women. Anal cancer-specific mortality was elevated among female patients with HIV. As screening for anal cancer becomes more widespread, examining the effects of screening on survival by HIV status and sex is crucial.

FUNDING

US National Cancer Institute Intramural Research Program.

Population-Based Analysis of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guideline Adherence for Patients with Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in California

PURPOSE

We analyzed adherence to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network treatment guidelines for anal squamous cell carcinoma in California and the associated impacts on survival.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of patients in the California Cancer Registry aged 18 to 79 years with recent diagnoses of anal squamous cell carcinoma. Predefined criteria were used to determine adherence. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for those receiving adherent care. Disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) were examined with a Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

4740 patients were analyzed. Female sex was positively associated with adherent care. Medicaid status and low socioeconomic status were negatively associated with adherent care. Non-adherent care was associated with worse OS (Adjusted HR 1.87, 95% CI = 1.66, 2.12, p < 0.0001). DSS was worse in patients receiving non-adherent care (Adjusted HR 1.96, 95% CI = 1.56, 2.46, p < 0.0001). Female sex was associated with improved DSS and OS. Black race, Medicare/Medicaid, and low socioeconomic status were associated with worse OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Male patients, those with Medicaid insurance, or those with low socioeconomic status are less likely to receive adherent care. Adherent care was associated with improved DSS and OS in anal carcinoma patients.

Current treatment and future directions in the management of anal cancer

Although rare, the rate of squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is rising globally. Most patients present with nonmetastatic disease and are curable with appropriate treatment, which has evolved significantly over the last several decades. Before the 1970s, SCCA was managed with radical surgery, resulting in a permanent colostomy. Researchers found that preoperative treatment with chemotherapy and concurrent radiation could achieve a pathologic complete response. After this observation, definitive therapy shifted from radical surgery to sphincter-preserving chemoradiation. Investigations into the necessity of chemotherapy and the optimal regimen found that chemotherapy with mitomycin-C and 5-fluorouracil is required for cure. Further studies evaluating the addition of induction or maintenance chemotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy, or higher radiation doses have demonstrated no significant benefit to disease control. Advanced radiation delivery with intensity-modulated radiotherapy techniques is now considered the standard of care because of its prospectively determined, favorable acute toxicity profile compared with 3-dimensional conformal radiation. It is important to note that chemoradiation treatment response may be slow (up to 26 weeks) and should be assessed through serial clinical examinations. Today, surgical management of SCCA is reserved only for the lowest risk, early stage tumors or for recurrent/persistent disease. Current studies are evaluating radiation dose de-escalation in early stage disease and radiation dose escalation and the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors in locally advanced cancers. In reviewing how and why modern-day treatment of SCCA was established, the objective of this report is to reenforce adherence to current treatment paradigms to assure the best possible outcomes for patients.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of mortality in anal cancer patients by HIV status

Advances in HIV treatments have resulted in life expectancies among people with HIV (PWH) that are similar to people without HIV (non-PWH), provided that PWH have access to these treatments. As a result of increased survival times, diagnosis of non-AIDS-defining cancers, including anal cancer (AC), has increased among PWH. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine if PWH have a higher hazard of mortality compared to non-PWH following AC diagnosis in the post-highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and conference abstracts from Jan 1, 1996 - October 31, 2018. Our analysis included longitudinal studies of adults diagnosed with AC which measured a hazard ratio (HR) of overall or cancer-specific mortality comparing PWH versus non-PWH. Using a random-effects model, we estimated the primary outcome, pooled overall survival HR, and the secondary outcome, cancer-specific survival HR. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Thirteen studies were relevant for inclusion, twelve of which had a low risk of bias. Meta-analysis of the studies reporting an overall survival HR found a non-significant pooled HR of 1.11 (95% CI: 0.85-1.44). Meta-analysis of the six studies reporting cancer-specific survival HR found a non-significant pooled HR of 1.15 (95% CI: 0.69-1.93). Heterogeneity was low and medium, respectively. Overall survival and cancer-specific survival HRs indicate that although PWH had higher mortality than non-PWH, the effects were not statistically significant. There is therefore no significant overall survival nor cancer-specific survival differences between PWH and non-PWH in the era of modern treatment.

The effect of non-AIDS-defining cancers on people living with HIV

Non-AIDS-defining cancers are a growing source of morbidity for people with HIV globally. Although people living with HIV have a disproportionately increased risk of developing virally mediated cancers, cancer burden for common non-AIDS-defining cancers that are not virally associated and are linked to ageing, such as prostate cancer, is becoming higher than for virally mediated cancers. Ageing, behavioural, and HIV-specific factors drive the incidence and affect the outcomes of non-AIDS-defining cancers, presenting different challenges for addressing global morbidity and mortality from non-AIDS-defining cancer. Although large population-based studies have shown that people living with HIV with non-AIDS-defining cancers have poorer cancer outcomes than do people without HIV, current guidelines emphasise that people living with HIV with non-AIDS-defining cancers should receive standard, guideline-based treatment, and infectious disease and oncology providers should work closely to address potential drug interactions between antiretroviral therapy and antineoplastic treatment. Most trials target preventive measures focusing on non-AIDS-defining cancers. However, treatment trials for the optimal management of people living with HIV and non-AIDS-defining cancer, including interventions such as immunotherapies, are needed to improve non-AIDS-defining cancer outcomes.

Patterns of HIV Self-Disclosure in the Oncology Setting

Higher rates of cancer treatment toxicity and uniquely poor outcomes following a cancer diagnosis have been reported for persons living with HIV (PLWH). This highlights the importance of active HIV status ascertainment in the oncology setting. Self-disclosure of HIV via electronic questionnaire at patient intake is a low-cost option that has not been thoroughly evaluated. We examined 10 years (2009-2019) of patient intake questionnaire data at Moffitt Cancer Center. Self-disclosure of an HIV diagnosis was not uniform, with 36.1% (n = 299, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 32.8% to 39.4%) of 828 patients disclosing. Identification of HIV through this method was highest for anal cancer patients (66.7%, 95% CI = 57.8% to 74.7%). Self-disclosure among patients with hematopoietic malignancies, the most common diagnosis among PLWH at our institution, was lower (19.4%, 95% CI = 14.6% to 25.0%). Patient characteristics associated with HIV self-disclosure included cancer site, natal gender, and race and ethnicity. Findings highlight gaps to motivate future efforts to increase HIV ascertainment prior to initiating cancer care.

HIV-Associated Anal Cancer

Anal cancer, despite being a rare malignancy, is increasing in incidence, accounting for 0.5% of all new cancer cases in the United States, with rate of new cases being 1.9 per 100,000 men and women. It is common in immunocompromised individuals, especially those with malignancy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Despite similar treatment of anal cancer in both HIV-positive and negative patients, guidelines for prevention and treatment of therapy-related side effects are rarely studied. While these patients have a better prognosis on HAART, limited guidelines exist regarding appropriate therapy. There is a common link between HPV and HIV and the transmission of one is associated with increased risk of transmission of the other. HPV vaccine which is known to prevent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is thought to also decrease the incidence of anal intraepithelial neoplasia. The association of HPV vaccine in the prevention of anal cancer in high-risk groups with HIV is a scarcely studied subject that requires further research.

A Review of Chronic Comorbidities in Adults Living With HIV: State of the Science

ABSTRACT

People living with HIV are living longer, high-quality lives; however, as they age, this population is at increased risk for developing chronic comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer (e.g., lung, anal, and liver), and diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this state-of-the-science review is to provide an evidence-based summary on common physical comorbidities experienced by people living and aging with HIV. We focus on those chronic conditions that are prevalent and growing and share behavioral risk factors that are common in people living with HIV. We will discuss the current evidence on the epidemiology, physiology, prevention strategies, screening, and treatment options for people living with HIV across resource settings.

Impact of tobacco smoking on the patient's outcome after (chemo)radiotherapy for anal cancer

PURPOSE

Anal squamous cell carcinoma is associated with multiple risk factors, including infection with human papillomavirus and human immunodeficiency virus, immunosuppression, multiple sex partners, receptive anal sex and tobacco smoking. The aim of our study was to identify prognostic factors associated with poor outcomes after radiotherapy for anal cancer.

METHODS

We analysed retrospectively the medical records of 171 patients treated by (chemo)radiotherapy for non-metastatic anal cancer in our institution from 2000 to 2015. Patients and tumour characteristics, treatments (chemotherapy, radiotherapy [RT] and surgery) and outcomes were reported. Colostomy-free survival (CRF), disease-free survival and overall survival (OS) at 5 years were studied. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by logistic regression to determine factors associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

Patients' characteristics were as follows: median age, 62 years (range = 36-89); gender, 45 men (26%) and 126 women (74%); HIV serology, positive: 21 patients (12%); tobacco smoking, 86 patients (50%), among whom 28 patients and 58 patients were current and former smokers, respectively. Tumours were classified as locally limited (T1-2, N0, M0) for 86 patients (50%) and locally advanced (T3-4 or N+, M0) for 85 patients (50%). The median total dose was 64.4 Gy (range = 54-76.6), and 146 patients were treated by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Factors associated with poor PFS in univariate analysis were as follows: tumour size >4 cm, lymph node involvement, tobacco smoking, no initial surgical excision and anal warts at diagnosis. In multivariate analysis, only tobacco smoking status was significantly associated with poor PFS (hazard ratio = 2.85, 95% confidence interval [1.25-6.50], p = 0.013). Five-year PFS for non-smokers, former smokers and current smokers was 88.1%, 76.7% and 73.8%, respectively (p = 0.038). Tobacco smoking was also associated with poor overall survival (p = 0.03), locoregional relapse-free survival (LRFS; p = 0.05) and CFS (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Tobacco smoking status is associated with poor OS, LRFS, PFS and CFS in patients treated for anal cancer by high RT dose ± chemotherapy.

Lung Cancer (LC) in HIV Positive Patients: Pathogenic Features and Implications for Treatment

: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection continues to be a social and public health problem. Thanks to more and more effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), nowadays HIV-positive patients live longer, thus increasing their probability to acquire other diseases, malignancies primarily. Senescence along with immune-system impairment, HIV-related habits and other oncogenic virus co-infections increase the cancer risk of people living with HIV (PLWH); in the next future non-AIDS-defining cancers will prevail, lung cancer (LC) in particular. Tumor in PLWH might own peculiar predictive and/or prognostic features, and antineoplastic agents' activity might be subverted by drug-drug interactions (DDIs) due to concurrent ART. Moreover, PLWH immune properties and comorbidities might influence both the response and tolerability of oncologic treatments. The therapeutic algorithm of LC, rapidly and continuously changed in the last years, should be fitted in the context of a special patient population like PLWH. This is quite challenging, also because HIV-positive patients have been often excluded from participation to clinical trials, so that levels of evidence about systemic treatments are lower than evidence in HIV-uninfected individuals. With this review, we depicted the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical-pathological characteristics and implications for LC care in PLWH, offering a valid focus about this topic to clinicians.

Immune Status and Associated Mortality After Cancer Treatment Among Individuals With HIV in the Antiretroviral Therapy Era

Importance

Immunologic decline associated with cancer treatment in people with HIV is not well characterized. Quantifying excess mortality associated with cancer treatment-related immunosuppression may help inform cancer treatment guidelines for persons with HIV.

Objective

To estimate the association between cancer treatment and CD4 count and HIV RNA level in persons with HIV and between posttreatment CD4 count and HIV RNA trajectories and all-cause mortality.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This observational cohort study included 196 adults with HIV who had an incident first cancer and available cancer treatment data while in the care of The Johns Hopkins HIV Clinic from January 1, 1997, through March 1, 2016. The study hypothesized that chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in people with HIV would increase HIV RNA levels owing to treatment tolerability issues and would be associated with a larger initial decline in CD4 count and slower CD4 recovery compared with surgery or other treatment. An additional hypothesis was that these CD4 count declines would be associated with higher mortality independent of baseline CD4 count, antiretroviral therapy use, and risk due to the underlying cancer. Data were analyzed from December 1, 2017, through April 1, 2018.

Exposures

Initial cancer treatment category (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy vs surgery or other treatment).

Main Outcomes and Measures

Post-cancer treatment longitudinal CD4 count, longitudinal HIV RNA level, and all-cause mortality.

Results

Among the 196 participants (135 [68.9%] male; median age, 50 [interquartile range, 43-55] years), chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy decreased initial CD4 count by 203 cells/μL (95% CI, 92-306 cells/μL) among those with a baseline CD4 count of greater than 500 cells/μL. The decline for those with a baseline CD4 count of no greater than 350 cells/μL was 45 cells/μL (interaction estimate, 158 cells/μL; 95% CI, 31-276 cells/μL). Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy had no detrimental association with HIV RNA levels. After initial cancer treatment, every 100 cells/μL decrease in CD4 count resulted in a 27% increase in mortality (hazard ratio, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.08-1.53), adjusting for HIV RNA level. No significant increase in mortality was associated with a unit increase in log10 HIV RNA after adjusting for CD4 count (hazard ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.94-1.65).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this study, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy was associated with significantly reduced initial CD4 count in adults with HIV compared with surgery or other treatment. Lower CD4 count after cancer treatment was associated with an increased hazard of mortality. Further research is necessary on the immunosuppressive effects of cancer treatment in adults with HIV and whether health care professionals must consider the balance of cancer treatment efficacy against the potential cost of further immunosuppression. Monitoring of immune status may also be helpful given the decrease in CD4 count after treatment and the already immunocompromised state of patients with HIV.

Anal cancer in people living with HIV: A case series

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes almost 5% of all cancers worldwide including cervical cancer, oropharyngeal cancers, vulval cancer, penile cancer and anal cancer. HPV-associated anal squamous cell carcinoma is a rare occurrence in the general population; however, the incidence is increasing. Certain groups including people living with HIV are disproportionately affected. In this case series, we report baseline demographics, clinical characteristics and outcome of anal cancer cases presenting in people living with HIV over a ten-year period (2006–2015).

Combined Androgen Blockade in Localized Prostate Cancer Treated With Definitive Radiation Therapy

BACKGROUND

The addition of androgen deprivation therapy to radiation therapy (RT) improves survival in patients with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer (PCa), but it is not known whether combined androgen blockade (CAB) with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-A) and a nonsteroidal antiandrogen improves survival over GnRH-A monotherapy.

METHODS

This study evaluated patients with intermediate- and high-risk PCa diagnosed in 2001 through 2015 who underwent RT with either GnRH-A alone or CAB using the Veterans Affairs Informatics and Computing Infrastructure. Associations between CAB and prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) and overall survival (OS) were determined using multivariable regression with Fine-Gray and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models, respectively. For a positive control, the effect of long-term versus short-term GnRH-A therapy was tested.

RESULTS

The cohort included 8,423 men (GnRH-A, 4,529; CAB, 3,894) with a median follow-up of 5.9 years. There were 1,861 deaths, including 349 resulting from PCa. The unadjusted cumulative incidences of PCSM at 10 years were 5.9% and 6.9% for those receiving GnRH-A and CAB, respectively (P=.16). Compared with GnRH-A alone, CAB was not associated with a significant difference in covariate-adjusted PCSM (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 1.05; 95% CI, 0.85-1.30) or OS (hazard ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.93-1.12). For high-risk patients, long-term versus short-term GnRH-A therapy was associated with improved PCSM (SHR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57-0.95) and OS (SHR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.73-0.93).

CONCLUSIONS

In men receiving definitive RT for intermediate- or high-risk PCa, CAB was not associated with improved PCSM or OS compared with GnRH alone.

Socioeconomic disparities in timeliness of care and outcomes for anal cancer patients

Background

Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with diagnostic and treatment delays and survival in multiple cancers, but less data exist for anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC). This study investigated the association between SES and outcomes for patients undergoing definitive chemoradiation therapy for ASCC.

Methods

One hundred and eleven patients diagnosed with nonmetastatic ASCC between 2005 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Socioeconomic predictor variables included primary payer, race, income, employment, and partnership status. Outcomes included the tumor‐node (TN) stage at diagnosis, the duration from diagnosis to treatment initiation, relapse‐free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS). Age, gender, TN stage, and HIV status were analyzed as covariates in survival analysis.

Results

SES was not associated with the TN stage at diagnosis. SES factors associated with treatment initiation delays were Medicaid payer (P = .016) and single partnership status (P = .016). Compared to privately insured patients, Medicaid patients had lower 2‐year RFS (64.4% vs 93.8%, P = .021) and OS (82.9% vs 93.5%, P = .038). Similarly, relative to patients in the racial majority, racial minority patients had lower 2‐year RFS (53.3% vs 93.5%, P = .001) and OS (73.7% vs 92.6%, P = .008). Race was an independent predictor for both RFS (P = .027) and OS (P = .047).

Conclusions

These results highlight the impact of social contextual factors on health. Interventions targeted at socioeconomically vulnerable populations are needed to reduce disparities in ASCC outcomes.

A multi-disciplinary model of survivorship care following definitive chemoradiation for anal cancer

Following definitive chemoradiation for anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC), patients face a variety of chronic issues including: bowel dysfunction, accelerated bone loss, sexual dysfunction, and psychosocial distress. The increasing incidence of this disease, high cure rates, and significant long-term sequelae warrant increased focus on optimal survivorship care following definitive chemoradiation. In order to establish our survivorship care model for ASCC patients, a multi-disciplinary team of experts performed a comprehensive literature review and summarized best practices for the multi-disciplinary management of this unique patient population. We reviewed principle domains of our survivorship approach: (1) management of chronic toxicities; (2) sexual health; (3) HIV management in affected patients; (4) psychosocial wellbeing; and (5) surveillance for disease recurrence and survivorship care delivery. We provide recommendations for the optimization of survivorship care for ASCC patients can through a multi-disciplinary approach that supports physical and psychological wellness.