Anal dysplasia in HIV-infected women: a commentary on the field

Impact of a High-Resolution Anoscopy Clinic on Management of Anal Dysplasia in Women Living With HIV

BACKGROUND

The rate of anal squamous cell cancer (aSCC) is increasing among women living with HIV. Treatment of precursor high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) may reduce the risk of progression to aSCC. The objective of this study was to examine effects of a dedicated high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) clinic on management of HSIL in women with HIV.

METHODS

Women living with HIV who underwent anal dysplasia screening at a single institution between 2006 and 2020 were reviewed. Those who underwent screening before (Group A) and after (Group B) the implementation of an HRA program in 2017 were compared. The primary outcome of interest was the successful detection and treatment of HSIL.

RESULTS

A total of 201 women living with HIV underwent anal dysplasia screening between 2006 and 2020. Seventy-seven patients were found to have abnormal anal cytology requiring further treatment: 43 (55.8%) in Group A and 34 (44.2%) patients in Group B. Of the patients with abnormal anal cytology, 76.7% of patients in Group A received further biopsy and treatment, whereas 79.4% of Group B patients underwent subsequent biopsy and treatment. In propensity score weighting logistic regression analysis, the Group B was 4.6 times as likely to diagnosis HSIL on biopsy compared to Group A (OR = 4.60, 95% CI: 1.15 to 18.38, P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

Anal dysplasia is common among women living with HIV. The establishment of a HRA program was associated with increased identification and treatment of HSIL among women living with HIV, which may prevent the progression to aSCC.

Anal cancer screening among women with HIV: provider experiences and system-level challenges

Women living with HIV (WLWH) are at increased risk of anal cancer compared to women without HIV, often due to persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. This paper describes current practices and challenges conducting anal cancer screening for WLWH at an urban integrated safety-net system and a non-profit community-based HIV clinic. We conducted 25 semi-structured interviews with clinical and administrative stakeholders to assess knowledge, clinic practices and procedures, and experiences with anal cancer screening. Interview transcripts and fieldnotes were thematically analyzed using an iterative deductive and inductive coding scheme. Findings were organized by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) domains and constructs. Provider-level barriers to conducting anal cancer screening included limited knowledge of guidelines. System-level barriers included: structural characteristics such as lack of coordination between clinics to discern provider roles and responsibilities; and limitations in available resources such as configuration of electronic health records and infrastructure to manage referrals of abnormal anal Pap results. We conclude that anal cancer screening and follow-up for WLWH requires organization and coordination between multiple care teams, updated clinical information systems to facilitate communication and support anal Pap ordering and result documentation, and infrastructure that includes policies and protocols for management of abnormal results.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02135419.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Promotes Human Papillomavirus-Mediated Anal Squamous Carcinogenesis: An Immunologic and Pathobiologic Review

BACKGROUND

Anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare gastrointestinal malignancy with rising incidence, both in the United States and internationally. The primary risk factor for anal SCC is human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, there is a growing burden of disease in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and HPV coinfection, with the incidence of anal SCC significantly increasing in this population. This is particularly true in HIV-infected men. The epidemiologic correlation between HIV-HPV coinfection and anal SCC is established; however, the immunologic mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood.

SUMMARY

HIV-related immunosuppression due to low circulating CD4+ T cells is one component of increased risk, but other mechanisms, such as the effect of HIV on CD8+ T lymphocyte tumor infiltration and the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in antitumor and antiviral response, is emerging as significant contributors. The goal of this article is to review existing research on HIV-HPV coinfected anal SCC and precancerous lesions, propose explanations for the detrimental synergy of HIV and HPV on the pathogenesis and immunologic response to HPV-associated cancers, and discuss implications for future treatments and immunotherapies in HIV-positive patients with HPV-mediated anal SCC. Key Messages: The incidence of anal squamous cell carcinoma is increased in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, even in patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Locoregional HIV infection may enhance human papillomavirus oncogenicity. Chronic inflammation due to HIV infection may contribute to CD8+ T lymphocyte exhaustion by upregulating PD-1 expression, thereby blunting cytotoxic antitumor response.

A comparative study of the genotype profiles of high-risk human papillomavirus infection in male and female HIV-positive patients and their correlation with anal cytology and biopsy

INTRODUCTION

Although anal cancer is more common in women, most of the studies on the role of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection in anal squamous lesions have focused on high-risk male patients. Therefore, we compared the genotype profile and clinicopathologic correlation of hrHPV infection in human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) men and women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 2254 HIV+ patients (1931 men and 323 women) who had undergone anal Papanicolaou tests at our institution; 1189 of them also had follow-up biopsy data available. HPV genotyping was performed using the Roche Cobas system and correlated with the cytologic and histologic diagnosis.

RESULTS

Compared with the HIV+ men, the HIV+ women had a significantly lower rate of hrHPV infection (67.5% versus 78.5%; P < 0.0001) but a significantly higher rate of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) on anal Papanicolaou tests (4.6% versus 2.5%; P < 0.05). Other high-risk HPV (ohrHPV), as a group, is much more common than HPV16 or HPV18 in both genders. HIV+ women had significantly lower HPV16 and ohrHPV infection rates than did HIV+ men. However, the HPV18 infection rates were similar between HIV+ women and HIV+ men. For both genders, the rates of HSILs or high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN2-3) were significantly increased when coinfection of ohrHPV with either HPV16 or HPV18 was present.

CONCLUSIONS

Although both HIV+ men and HIV+ women have an increased risk of hrHPV infection, HIV+ women have different hrHPV genotype profiles and higher rates of high-grade lesions. Coinfection with different genotypes of hrHPV can significantly increase the risk of HSILs or AIN2-3 in both genders and could requires vigilant clinical and laboratory follow-up.

Evaluating the Utility and Prevalence of HPV Biomarkers in Oral Rinses and Serology for HPV-related Oropharyngeal Cancer

Performance of commercially available human papillomavirus (HPV) assays (approved for cervical HPV detection) is unknown for detecting HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC). Assays for detection of HPV DNA [ELISA (DEIA) and Cobas], and RNA (Aptima) in oral rinse samples, and serum HPV oncogene antibodies were evaluated. Sensitivity and specificity of each test was explored among HPV-OPC cases and controls. Biomarker prevalence was evaluated among 294 "at-risk" people (screening) and 133 "high-risk" people [known to previously have oral oncogenic HPV (oncHPV) DNA and/or HPV16 E6/E7 antibodies detected]. HPV16 E6 antibodies had the best overall test performance with sensitivity of 88%, compared with oral HPV16 DNA sensitivity of 51% by DEIA and 43% by Cobas (each P < 0.001). Specificity was comparable in each of these tests (≥98%). When positivity for any oncHPV type was compared with HPV16 for the same test, sensitivity was comparable (60% vs. 51%, 40% vs. 43%, and 92% vs. 88% for DEIA, Cobas, and E6 antibodies, respectively), but specificity was reduced (93%-97%). Aptima had poor sensitivity (23%). Sensitivity decreased when cotesting HPV16 oral rinse DNA and E6 antibodies (37%-48%), or multiple E antibodies (69%-72%). HPV16 DNA were detected in ∼2% of the at-risk by either DEIA or Cobas and up to 15% of the high-risk population. HPV16 E6 seroprevalence was 2.3% and 2.4% in the at-risk and high-risk populations, respectively. Oral rinse HPV testing had moderate-to-poor sensitivity for HPV-OPC, suggesting many true positives would be missed in a potential screening scenario. HPV16 E6 serum antibody was the most promising biomarker evaluated.

Anogenital human papillomavirus virus DNA and sustained response to the quadrivalent HPV vaccine in women living with HIV-1

OBJECTIVES

People living with HIV have increased Human Papillomavirus (HPV) related lesions and malignancies. We describe HPV DNA recovered from the cervix and anal canal, explore the effect of vaccination on HPV detection, and examine the durability of vaccine titers in women living with HIV-1 who were vaccinated with the quadrivalent HPV vaccine.

METHODS

AIDS Clinical Trials Group A5240 was a prospective study of the quadrivalent HPV (qHPV) vaccine in 315 HIV-1 infected women in three CD4 strata (A: >350, B; 201-350, C: ≤200 cells/mm3). Vaccine was administered at entry, week 8 and week 24. Cervical and anal HPV DNA specimens were collected at baseline, weeks 28 and 52; serum for antibody testing was obtained at baseline, weeks 28 and 72.

RESULTS

Vaccine antibody titers decreased across all four HPV types at week 72 compared to week 28. Lower proportions of sustained seropositivity were observed in women with lower CD4 counts for all four vaccine types, with the lowest titers for HPV 18. Despite the decrease, the geometric mean titer levels were above the seroconversion cut-off levels for all types except HPV 18 in the lowest CD4 stratum. Of the 174 participants who had a negative baseline HPV 16 antibody and developed antibody response at week 28, 95%, 88%, and 86% retained seropositivity at week 72 in strata A, B, and C respectively. Lower antibody retention was observed in women with CD4 < 200 compared to CD4 > 350 (p = 0.016). Anal HPV detection was more prevalent compared to cervical detection at all visits. Among high risk types, type 52, 31, 16, 18 and 51 were the most common in the cervical compartment, while types 16, 35, 18, and 51 were the most prevalent in the anal canal at baseline (listed in the order of prevalence). Later detection of HPV not present at baseline was uncommon in either compartment. Serial recovery of HPV over time was more commonly observed in the anal canal.

CONCLUSION

The qHPV vaccine elicits durable titer response above the seroconversion cut-off levels in HIV-infected women. However, the titer levels were substantially lower by Week 72, most noticeably in type 18. HPV DNA was detected more frequently in the anal canal. Detection of non-vaccine high risk HPV suggests a role for the nonavalent vaccine.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Anal Oncogenic Human Papillomavirus Infection Among HIV-Infected Women in France in the Combination Antiretroviral Therapy Era

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the type-specific prevalence of anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and risk factors for anal high-risk (HR) HPV infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of anal and cervical HPV infection was nested within a gynecological cohort of HIV-infected women. Specimens were tested for type-specific DNA using a polymerase chain reaction-based assay.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 311 women with a median age of 45.3 years, of whom 42.8% originated from sub-Saharan Africa and 96.8% were receiving combination antiretroviral therapy. The median CD4(+)cell count was 612/μL, and the HIV load was <50 copies/mL in 84.1%. HR-HPV types were detected in the anal canal in 148 women (47.6%) and in the cervix in 82 (26.4%). HPV-16 was the most prevalent type in both the anal canal (13.2% of women) and the cervix (5.1%). In multivariable analysis, factors associated with prevalent anal HR-HPV infection were CD4(+)count <350/μL (odds ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-6.5), concurrent cervical lesions (2.6; 1.0-4.3), and cervical HR-HPV infection (1.8; 1.0-3.2).

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of HR-HPV types, including HPV-16, in the anal canal of HIV-positive women is concerning. Anal cancer screening should be considered for HIV-positive women as part of their routine care.