Xpert HPV as a Screening Tool for Anal Histologic High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in Women Living With HIV

BACKGROUND

Women living with HIV (WLWH) experience high rates of anal cancer. Screening using anal cytology, high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) with biopsies, can histologically diagnose anal cancer precursors called high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). The low specificity of screening using anal cytology results in HRA referral for many WLWH without HSIL. Screening using high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) may improve specificity.

METHODS

Two hundred seven WLWH (63% non-Hispanic black) were screened for anal histologic HSIL (hHSIL) using cytology, HRA-guided biopsies, and Xpert HPV. Xpert performance for predicting anal hHSIL was compared with that of cytology. Usng Xpert 5 HPV genotypic results and accompanying cycle thresholds, receiver operator characteristic curve and recursive partitioning analyses were used to create predictive models for hHSIL.

RESULTS

The performance of Xpert to predict hHSIL was not different from that of cytology with a sensitivity (Sn) of 89% and specificity (Sp) of 49%. Interpretation of Xpert was modified using genotypic results and receiver operator characteristic curve analysis, which produced a screen with an Sn and Sp of 75% and 84% for hHSIL, respectively. Another reinterpretation of Xpert was created using recursive partitioning and cycle thresholds, which predicted hHSIL with an Sn and Sp of 75% and 86%, respectively. The detection of HPV-16 was highly predictive of hHSIL in all analyses. These modified screening tests would reduce HRA referral in this population by almost half compared with anal cytology.

CONCLUSIONS

Xpert HPV is an alternative to anal cytology to screen for anal HSIL and can be optimized to reduce the number of unnecessary HRAs performed in WLWH.

Tolerability of paclitaxel/carboplatin (PCb) in solid tumor patients (pts) infected with HIV

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Background: Although cancer has long been a recognized hallmark of the HIV epidemic, the preservation of immunologic health with modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) and aging has resulted in a population increasingly susceptible to cancers not traditionally associated with advancing immunosuppression. Several of these cancers (including lung, anal and head & neck) are seen in excess compared to the background population. Defining tolerability of standard treatments and analyzing potential interactions between ART and chemotherapy provides evidence necessary to mitigate treatment disparities. Methods: We conducted a study to evaluate the tolerability of PCb in HIV+ cancer pts. AMC-078 (NCT01249443), originally designed as a phase I of vorinostat in combination with fixed doses of P (at 175mg/m2) and Cb (AUC 6) every 3 weeks, was amended to study pts treated with PCb alone after phase III testing in the background population was negative for the combination in lung cancer. Eligibility criteria: PS ≤ 2, advanced solid tumor and normal organ function, including CD4 count > 100 cells/mcL on stable ART. Up to 6 cycles of PCb were permitted. Clinically significant adverse events (AE) in prior cycles were managed by dose reductions. Results: 17 pts (10M/7F; median CD4, 389/mcL) were accrued, including lung (9) and anal (3) cancers; 8 pts had ritonavir (potent CYP inhibitor)-containing ART. 65 PCb cycles were administered to 16 evaluable pts, for a mean of 4+ cycles/pt; only 2 pts were treated with vorinostat. AE of special interest included ≥G3 (febrile) neutropenia and ≥ G2 neuropathy, below. 4 pts had partial responses (3 confirmed). Pharmacokinetic analyses (7 pts) are pending. Conclusions: PCb has similar toxicity profile in fit pts with HIV infection. No signal for worse myelosuppression or neuropathy was observed by ART regimen. Routine use of GCSF or empiric dose reduction for presumed risk is unjustified. Results support standard cancer treatment for this underserved population. Clinical trial information: NCT01249443. [Table: see text]