Dr. Eng on Emerging Agents for Treatment of Anal Cancer

Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, professor, director, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, Network Clinical Research, associate medical director, Colorectal Center, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses emerging agents for the treatment of patients with anal cancer.

Anal cancer, considered by researchers to be a rare tumor type, has risen in incidence in recent years, Eng explains. As approximately 65% of patients are cured with chemoradiation, Eng says she believes pharmaceutical companies have not shown an interest in further developing the field. However, patients with bulky disease are at high risk for recurrence, which requires an abdominal perineal resection, Eng says.

A new drug being investigated in anal cancer is axalimogene filolisbac (ADXS11-001), an attenuated virus fused with an HPV-16 E7 capsid protein. Though a phase III trial is currently on hold, Eng adds that it will likely reopen. The study will randomize patients with early-stage disease to receive 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C, and intensity-modulated radiation therapy with or without ADXS11-001.