Anal cancer incidence and survival: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results experience, 1973–2000

Abstract

BACKGROUNDAnal cancer is a rare malignancy of the anogenital tract that historically has affected women at a greater rate than men.METHODSThe authors analyzed changing trends in incidence rates and 5‐year relative survival percentages for patients with anal cancer. The publicly available data used in the current study were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, a system of population‐based tumor registries in the United States.RESULTSThe incidence of anal cancer was similar for men and women between 1994 and 2000 (2.04 per 100,000 and 2.06 per 100,000, respectively), the most recent period for which data were available, whereas men had lower rates than did women between 1973 and 1979 (1.06 per 100,000, compared with 1.39 per 100,000), the earliest period for which data were available. In addition, recently, black men had higher incidence rates than did other race‐specific and gender‐specific groups (2.71 per 100,000). From the earliest period for which data were available to the most recent period, relative 5‐year survival improved from 59% to 73% among women, was unchanged among men (∼60%), and decreased from 45% to 27% among black men. Eighteen percent of patients who had distant disease were alive at 5 years, compared with 78% of patients who had localized disease.CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of anal cancer in the United States increased between 1973 and 2000, particularly among men. There were higher incidence rates and lower survival rates for black men compared with other race‐specific and gender‐specific groups. Later disease stage was inversely associated with the survival rate, indicating that earlier detection may improve the survival of patients with anal cancer. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.

Trends in incidence of anal cancer and high‐grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia in Denmark, 1978–2008

“…This is in line with reports from the USA of increases in incidence in periods between 1940 and 2003 3,4,[16][17][18][19] and from other European countries. [20][21][22] As in the 2 most recent European studies, we observed that the increase was particularly evident in women.…”

“…5,30 The 5% annual increase in the incidence of AIN2/3 in the period 1998-2008 is even higher than the overall increase in anal cancer. This corresponds to the findings of Johnson et al, 4 who observed increased incidences of anal carcinoma in situ in both genders between 1973 and 2000 in the USA, but with a higher rate in men. This may reflect, first, that the likelihood of being screened and having the disease diagnosed at an early stage has increased, and, second, that men at risk are more likely to be screened than women.…”

“…This may reflect, first, that the likelihood of being screened and having the disease diagnosed at an early stage has increased, and, second, that men at risk are more likely to be screened than women. 4 In Denmark, there is no systematic screening for AIN; however, high-risk groups might be more likely to be screened. In a recent review, Oon and Winter 31 defined high-risk groups for anal cancers as: HIV-positive and HIV-negative men who have sex with men; women with a history of cervical cancer, vulvar cancer or vulvar high-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion; and transplant recipients.…”

“…1 According to data from the SEER programme in the United States, the survival rate has improved substantially in women but not in men. 4 Smoking, sexual practices and immunosuppression have been reported to increase the risk for anal cancer. 1,[5][6][7][8] The most important causative agent is, however, infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).…”

Anal Canal Basaloid Carcinoma Treated with Local Resection and Radiation: A Case Report

“…The incidence of anal cancer is increasing due to its risk factors [11] , such as anal-genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, immunosuppression associated with human immunodeficiency virus or transplantation and smoking [12,13] . In the present patient, there was no symptom of anal-genital HPV infection or immunosuppression.…”