Clinical trial · Interventional
Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer
The Natural History of Anal Human Papillomavirus Infection and Anal Cellular Abnormalities in Homosexual Men
NCT02007421CI-TRIAL-00042001SPANCcompletedN/AClinicalTrials.gov clinicaltrialsProvenance
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
SPANC stands for Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer. There are more than 100 types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Some HPV types cause genital warts and other types cause more than 90% of anal cancer. Gay men are over 20 times more likely than others to develop anal cancer. SPANC is a study of anal (HPV) infection and related anal disease in gay men. The study will provide important information to guide the possible future introduction of anal cancer screening programs for gay men.
Conditions
Conditions (2)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer | Malignant Neoplasm | ALIAS | 0.90 |
| Human Papillomavirus | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Resolution Anoscopy | Procedure | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Participants asked questions about recent experiences of anal intercourse in the last six months. | Procedure | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- OTHER
- label
- HIV positive homosexual men
- description
- Therefore, it is proposed we conduct a longitudinal study of the epidemiology of low risk and high risk HPV infection and related low grade and high grade anal cancers in HIV negative and HIV positive homosexual men who are 35 years or older. Participants are asked questions about recent experiences of anal intercourse in the last six months. At baseline, all men (both HIV positive and HIV negative)will undergo a behavioural questionnaire, and anal swabs which will be tested for HPV and cytology. An HRA will also be performed on all men. Blood will be collected for HIV testing for HIV negative participants, syphilis and storage. Participants will be followed up for three years with one six-monthly visit in the first year then annually. A 6th study visit to discuss all study results will take place 2-3 months after the 5th study visit. A behavioural questionnaire, an anal swab, and HRA will be administered at all follow up interviews.
- interventionNames
- Procedure: Participants asked questions about recent experiences of anal intercourse in the last six months.
- Procedure: High Resolution Anoscopy
- type
- OTHER
- label
- HIV negative homosexual men
- description
- Therefore, it is proposed we conduct a longitudinal study of the epidemiology of low risk and high risk HPV infection and related low grade and high grade anal cancers in HIV negative and HIV positive homosexual men who are 35 years or older. Participants are asked questions about recent experiences of anal intercourse in the last six months. At baseline, all men (both HIV positive and HIV negative)will undergo a behavioural questionnaire, and anal swabs which will be tested for HPV and cytology. An HRA will also be performed on all men. Blood will be collected for HIV testing for HIV negative participants, syphilis and storage. Participants will be followed up for three years with one six-monthly visit in the first year then annually. A 6th study visit to discuss all study results will take place 2-3 months after the 5th study visit. A behavioural questionnaire, an anal swab, and HRA will be administered at all follow up interviews.
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- Male
- Minimum age
- 35 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: Male homosexual aged 35 years or above; HIV positive participants: documented to be HIV positive; HIV negative participants: tested HIV negative at recruitment; provision of informed, written consent. \- Exclusion Criteria: participants unable to attend scheduled follow-up interviews or unwilling to undergo high resolution anoscopies (HRA); unable to understand English; having bleeding disorders or currently taking anti-coagulant medications; having previously received HRA; having ever been diagnosed with anal cancer. \-
References
Publications (2)
- BACKGROUNDMachalek DA, Grulich AE, Hillman RJ, Jin F, Templeton DJ, Tabrizi SN, Garland SM, Prestage G, McCaffery K, Howard K, Tong W, Fairley CK, Roberts J, Farnsworth A, Poynten IM; SPANC Study Team. The Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer (SPANC): design and methods of a three-year prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health. 2013 Oct 9;13:946. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-946. PMID 24107134
- DERIVEDTong WW, Shepherd K, Garland S, Meagher A, Templeton DJ, Fairley CK, Jin F, Poynten IM, Zaunders J, Hillman RJ, Grulich AE, Kelleher AD, Carr A; Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer (SPANC) team. Human papillomavirus 16-specific T-cell responses and spontaneous regression of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. J Infect Dis. 2015 Feb 1;211(3):405-15. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiu461. Epub 2014 Aug 19. PMID 25139018