Abstract
Anal cancer is a rare condition, although its incidence has been increasing over the past several decades, particularly in women. The majority of anal cancers are squamous cell cancers and are linked with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. Recent work in HPV basic science has delineated the mechanism by which the virus leads to the development of anal cancer. With widespread availability of an HPV vaccine since 2006, vaccination has become an important strategy for anal cancer prevention. However, in the US, there remain no guidelines for anal cancer screening. Treatment of anal cancer is dictated largely by accurate staging, which is generally accomplished with a combination of physical exam, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and positron emission tomography. Chemoradiation remains the mainstay of treatment for most patients, with surgery reserved for salvage therapy. Recent trials have identified the optimal use of available chemotherapeutics. Exciting developments in immune therapies targeting HPV oncoproteins as well as therapeutic vaccines may soon dramatically change the way patients with anal cancer are managed.
Highlights
The understanding and treatment of anal cancer has evolved over the past several decades
For those diagnosed with anal cancer, multimodal therapy with chemotherapy and radiation is the cornerstone of anal cancer treatment, with surgery generally reserved for those who have progression of disease despite chemoradiation
The development of anal cancer is strongly associated with human human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, with 91% of anal cancers attributed to the virus[2]
Summary
Faculty Reviews are review articles written by the prestigious Members of Faculty Opinions. The articles are commissioned and peer reviewed before publication to ensure that the final, published version is comprehensive and accessible. The reviewers who approved the final version are listed with their names and affiliations. University of California at San Francisco, Medical Science Room, San Francisco, USA Chia-Ching Wang, University of California at San Francisco, Medical Science Room, San Francisco, USA. University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA. Any comments on the article can be found at the end of the article
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