Introduction: Anal cancer incidence is increasing in HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). There are still no standardized criteria for anal cancer screening. Anal cytology has not shown enough sensitivity and specificity in the selection of patients who need more invasive procedures, as high resolution anoscopy (HRA). Human Papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 oncogenes deregulation is a crucial factor in neoplasic lesions progression.~Objectives: 1)To assess the negative and positive predictive value of E6/E7 mRNA expression for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and its capacity to predict the incidence of new HSIL during the follow-up 2)To analyze the cost-effectiveness of E6/E7 as a new screening strategy for anal cancer compared with usual strategies (cytology and DNA detection).~Methodology: Ambispective longitudinal study. Participants: HIV MSM from the outpatients HIV and STD Unit of Bellvitge Hospital. We include patients visited within the usual outpatient practice since January 2015 with a cytology stored following the Hospital protocol, as well as patients collected prospectively since January 2017. This methodological approach will let to reduce the time of inclusion and maximize follow-up time. Sample size calculated: 355 participants. Follow-up period: 2 to 5 years. At each visit an anal smear for cytology, HPV DNA detection (by Linear Array and Hybrid Capture) and E6/E7 mRNA expression and a HRA with biopsy of suspicious areas of dysplasia will be performed. The analysis of cost-effectiveness will be made with a Markov model that projects long-term cost and effectiveness for both strategies, the E6/E7 and conventional cytology plus detection of High Risk HPV.
This study evaluates the positive and negative predictive value of E6/E7 mRNA expression for anal HSIL and its capacity to predict incident HSIL in HIV + MSM. We also analyse the cost-effectiveness of this new screening strategy. It is an ambispective study with 355 participants and a follow-up period of 2 to 5 years.