The cells in the anus, when infected by ‘high risk” forms of HPV (the virus that causes warts) is a pre-cancerous condition called AIN (anal intraepithelial neoplasia).
This condition which is not easily treated even by antiretroviral therapy is more common in gay men and can progress to anal cancer if left untreated.
At present, available treatments for AIN include surgical removal, use of infra-red radiation and treatment with trichloroacetic acid. These treatment procedures however are more often not successful in treating AIN most especially when it is already widespread or found in several different places in or around the anus.
According to the results of a clinical trial published in the May 12 edition of AIDS, a vaccine made from a fragment of the human papilloma virus (HPV) is safe for use in HIV-positive patients with high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) and may also be useful in treating the condition.
The vaccine used in this study is SGN-00101, which is also called HspE7, a vaccine made from the E7 protein of HPV type 16 fused to a protein from a bacterium.
Read more at AIDS Map.
Comment Preview