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Summary of emerging targets in anal cancer: the case for an immunotherapy based-approach

Van Morris1, Cathy Eng1

  • 1UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.

Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
|October 18, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCA) is a rare cancer often caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Immunotherapy shows promise for treating advanced SCCA, offering new hope for patients with limited options.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCA) is a rare gastrointestinal malignancy with increasing incidence globally.
  • Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the primary cause of SCCA, integrating into host DNA.
  • Metastatic anal cancer lacks a standard treatment protocol, highlighting an unmet clinical need.

Approach:

  • This review examines current immunotherapies being investigated for advanced cancers.
  • It specifically discusses the potential application of these immunotherapies in treating metastatic anal cancer.
  • The focus is on leveraging the viral etiology of SCCA for novel therapeutic strategies.

Key Points:

  • The viral origin of SCCA presents a unique target for immunotherapeutic intervention.
  • Various immunotherapeutic approaches are under active investigation for other advanced malignancies.
  • Translating these approaches to SCCA could significantly improve patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Immunotherapy represents a promising frontier for managing advanced anal cancer.
  • Further research into HPV-targeted and other immunotherapies is crucial for developing effective treatments.
  • Exploring immunotherapy offers a novel strategy to overcome the limitations of current SCCA treatment paradigms.
Keywords:
Immunotherapyanal cancerhuman papillomavirus (HPV)programmed death (PD)squamous cell cancer

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