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Anal Cancer

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Abstract

Anal cancer is a squamous cell cancer of the anal canal and perianal region that is very similar biologically to cervical cancer in terms of its association with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV), particularly HPV 16. Like cervical cancer, anal cancer occurs most often in a squamo-columnar transformation zone, and is preceded by squamous intraepithelial lesions. The incidence of anal cancer is considerably higher in HIV-infected men and women than in the general population and has increased since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Anal cancer is now the fourth most common cancer among HIV-positive individuals. Unlike most other cancers occurring in the HIV-positive population, anal cancer is also potentially preventable through primary prevention (vaccination against HPV). Screening for and removal of high-grade anal squamous intraepithelial lesions may also be useful for secondary prevention of anal cancer among those who have already developed ASIL, similar to the successful model used to prevent cervical cancer. Studies are planned to determine if secondary prevention is effective in prevention of anal cancer.

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  1. University of California, 513 Parnassus Ave, 0654, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

    Joel M. Palefsky M.D.

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  1. Joel M. Palefsky M.D.
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Correspondence to Joel M. Palefsky M.D. .

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  1. National Cancer Institute HIV/AIDS Malignancy Branch, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Robert Yarchoan

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Palefsky, J.M. (2014). Anal Cancer. In: Yarchoan, R. (eds) Cancers in People with HIV and AIDS. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0859-2_20

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