Research into anal cancer
Researchers around the world are looking at better ways to diagnose and treat anal cancer.
Go to Cancer Research UK’s clinical trials database if you are looking for a trial for anal cancer in the UK. You need to talk to your specialist if there are any trials that you think you might be able to take part in.
Research and clinical trials
All cancer treatments must be fully researched before they can be used for everyone. This is so we can be sure that:
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they work
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they work better than the treatments already available
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they are safe
To make sure the research is accurate, each trial has certain entry conditions for who can take part. These are different for each trial.
Hospitals do not take part in every clinical trial. Some trials are only done in a small number of hospitals, or in one area of the country. You may need to travel quite far if you take part in these trials.
Research into diagnosis
Researchers have been looking into a new blood test to help diagnose cancer earlier.
A test called the Galleri test works to detect cancer. Your blood is tested for signals that might mean you have cancer. Cancer can release small bits of 
into the blood (ctDNA). The test is looking for ctDNA in your blood.
Research into treatment
Chemoradiotherapy
Different doses of chemoradiotherapy
Having chemotherapy and radiotherapy together (chemoradiotherapy) is a common treatment for anal cancer.
Researchers are looking at different doses of chemoradiotherapy. They want to find out if:
- a higher dose of chemoradiotherapy reduces the risk of cancer coming back for people with locally advanced cancers
- a lower dose of chemoradiotherapy or regular checkups stop early anal cancers from coming back after surgery
Chemoradiotherapy with a targeted drug
Researchers are also looking at using a with radiotherapy. The drug, called pembrolizumab is used with (IMRT).
They want to find out if it is safe to add pembrolizumab to standard chemoradiotherapy for anal cancer.
Chemotherapy with a targeted drug
A trial is looking into using a chemotherapy drug combination with a targeted drug or a dummy drug (placebo). The researchers will look at whether carboplatin and paclitaxel work better with retifanlimab or not. This trial is for people with locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell anal cancer.
Vaccine treatment
Doctors are looking at treating anal cancer with a vaccine called RNA. The vaccine is for people with anal cancer that has come back after treatment and who have tested positive to the Human Papilloma virus (HPV).
The vaccine has been made in the laboratory to help the immune system to recognise and attack a type of HPV called HPV16. The researchers want to find out more about the dose and side effects of the vaccine, and how well it works.
