Anal Cancer Review: From Standard Treatment to Personalized Therapy

Anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is a rare but increasingly prevalent disease, predominantly driven by human papillomavirus infection, with decreasing prevalence among individuals of vaccination-eligible age. This review examines the current standard of care for managing ASCC and explores how advancements in molecular biomarkers are paving the way for personalized treatment strategies. The authors also discuss the potential of immunotherapy as an adjunct to standard-of-care management in all stages of disease.

Upon completing this activity:

1. Clinicians will understand the role of emerging biomarkers and treatment options in the management of ASCC.

2. Clinicians will learn how to adopt a personalized approach to ASCC treatment by integrating disease stage and tumor biology into clinical decision-making.

3. Clinicians will learn how to apply current guidelines on the use of biomarkers in the treatment of ASCC.

Mustafa M. Basree, DO, MS¹; Ryan Hutten, MD¹; Quaovi Sodji, MD, PhD^1,2; Michael F. Bassetti, MD, PhD¹; Jacob A. Miller, MD³

Affiliations: ¹Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, WI; ²William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI; ³Department of Radiation Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.

1. Radiation oncologists.

2. Related oncology professionals.

None.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Institute for Advanced Medical Education (IAME) and Anderson Publishing. IAME is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. IAME designates this activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

1. Review this article in its entirety.

2. Visit appliedradiology.org/SAM.

3. Login or create an account.

4. Complete the post test and review the discussion and references.

5. Complete the evaluation.

6. Print your certificate.

The authors disclose no relationships with ineligible companies.

IAME has assessed conflicts of interest with its faculty, authors, editors, and any individuals who were in a position to control the content of this CME activity. Any relevant financial relationships were mitigated with an independent peer review of this activity, and no conflicts or commercial bias were detected. IAME’s planners, content reviewers, and editorial staff disclose no relationships with ineligible entities.