Feasibility Study of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia Surgical Excision in People Living With HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa

The AMC-certified ophthalmologist will obtain a thorough eye history and conduct a slit-lamp examination of both eyes. The AMC-certified ophthalmologist will draw the size and shape of the suspected lesion on a well-accepted template designed for documentation of ocular surface malignancies. Using this template, the AMC-certified ophthalmologist will document the number of clock hours of corneal-scleral limbus involved (6 clock hours maximum) as well as the maximum vertical and horizontal dimensions of the lesion in mm as determined through the use of the adjustable slit beam, whose length can be adjusted and determined using the slit length display window, a standard feature of slit lamp biomicroscopes.

Eighty-four participants undergoing surgical excision of tumors suspicious for OSSN will be enrolled in this study. Participants who do not complete the study follow-up visits will not be replaced. The lesions will be swabbed prior to surgical excision and the swabs will be placed in PrimeStore MTM solution, for HPV DNA testing. The suspected OSSN lesion will be excised with 3 mm margins as determined by clinical exam. The PrimeStore MTM solution will be sent to Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa for HPV testing. The surgically excised lesions will be fixed, aligned, embedded in paraffin, sectioned and evaluated by pathologists at each of the 4 study sites. Tissue will then be sent to Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa for confirmatory histopathologic analysis and HPV testing.

To ensure reliable follow-up, we will collect detailed contact and alternate contact information from study participants. Participants will be asked to return for follow-up one week after surgery, 6 weeks after surgery, 6 months after surgery, and 12 months after surgery. At each of these follow-up visits, the AMC-certified ophthalmologist will obtain a thorough medical history and perform a slit-lamp examination of the eyes. At week 2, sites will contact participants via phone to review AEs. Participants will undergo a structured review of post-surgical signs and symptoms at each follow-up visit. Participants presenting with a suspected recurrent OSSN lesion at follow-up will undergo re-excision per routine clinical care, including any follow-up per the local standard of care. After local diagnostic review, excised specimens will be sent for central histopathology evaluation and confirmation of recurrent OSSN or not recurrent OSSN. All other ocular lesions and conditions will be referred for routine medical care, outside of the study.

Inclusion criteria

3.2.1 Participants with suspected unilateral, non-invasive OSSN lesions that the AMC-certified ophthalmologist determines can be resected with 3 mm clinical margins, sparing involvement of the superior and inferior fornices as well as 6 clock hours of the corneal scleral limbus. This assessment must be carried out within 4 weeks before surgery.

3.2.2 HIV positive. Documentation of HIV-1 infection by means of any one of the following:

• Documentation of receipt of ART by a licensed health care provider (Documentation may be a record of an ART prescription in the participant's medical record, a written prescription in the name of the participant for ART, or pill bottles for ART with a label showing the participant's name. Antiretroviral drug regimens used for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may not satisfy this requirement.;
• HIV-1 RNA detection by a licensed HIV-1 RNA assay demonstrating >1000 RNA copies/mL confirmed by a licensed screening antibody and/or HIV antibody/antigen combination assay;
• Any licensed HIV screening antibody and/or HIV antibody/antigen combination assay confirmed by a second licensed HIV assay such as a HIV-1 Western blot confirmation or HIV rapid multispot antibody differentiation assay.

Note: The term "licensed" refers to a kit that has been certified or licensed by an oversight body within the participating country and validated internally (e.g., U.S. FDA).

WHO and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines mandate that confirmation of the initial test result must use a test that is different from the one used for the initial assessment. A reactive initial rapid test should be confirmed by either another type of rapid assay or an enzyme or chemiluminescence assay (E/CIA) that is based on a different antigen preparation and/or different test principle (e.g., indirect versus competitive), or a Western blot or a plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load.

3.2.3 Performance status ≤ 2 on the WHO Scale (see Appendix III).

Exclusion criteria

3.3.1 Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents within 30 days before enrollment for surgery, except for investigational ART regimens, which will be permitted.

3.3.2 Participants with known history of ocular surface lesions including OSSN, other ocular neoplasm, pterygia, or limbal vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

3.3.3 Uncontrolled intercurrent illness within 4 weeks before enrollment, including but not limited to ongoing or active infection, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.