Among patients with HIV, men who have sex with men (MSM) have the greatest risk of developing anal cancer, according to research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
These findings can inform recommendations for prioritizing anal cancer screening and treatment in certain populations, according to researchers.
The researchers examined data from the HIV/AIDS Cancer Match Study, which links US HIV surveillance and cancer registry data from 2000 to 2019.
There were 3444 anal cancers diagnosed in patients with HIV during about 11 million person-years. Of these 3444 cases, 2678 occurred in patients with a prior AIDS diagnosis.
Among HIV patients with or without AIDS, MSM had the greatest risk of anal cancer when compared to other men and women.
In the first 10 years after an HIV diagnosis, MSM diagnosed before the age of 30 had a cumulative incidence of anal cancer of 0.17%. In other men diagnosed with HIV before age 30, the cumulative incidence of anal cancer was 0.04%. In women diagnosed with HIV before 30, the cumulative incidence was 0.03%.
In the 10-20 years after an HIV diagnosis, the cumulative incidence of anal cancer increased more than 5-fold in MSM diagnosed with HIV before age 30, to 0.88%. In other men and women diagnosed with HIV before age 30, the cumulative incidence of anal cancer at 10-20 years was 0.22% and 0.25%, respectively.
Similar results were seen in older age groups as well.
The researchers also found that the cumulative incidence of anal cancer was greater among patients with an AIDS diagnosis. For MSM diagnosed with AIDS before the age of 30, the cumulative incidence of anal cancer in the first 10 years was 0.35%. In other men and women diagnosed with AIDS before age 30, the cumulative incidence of anal cancer at 0-10 years was 0.09% for both groups.
In the 10-20 years after an AIDS diagnosis, the cumulative incidence of anal cancer more than tripled in MSM diagnosed with AIDS before age 30, to 1.23%. In other men and women diagnosed with AIDS before age 30, the cumulative incidence of anal cancer at 10-20 years was 0.35% and 0.47%, respectively.
Again, similar results were seen in older patients.
“Our population-based linkage study provides the largest cohort for estimating anal cancer among PWH [people with HIV] in the US,” the researchers concluded. “As committees convene to consider anal cancer screening recommendations, these estimates provide insight for prioritizing individuals and populations for screening.”
By Leah Lawrence
Reference
Haas CB, Engels EA, Horner M-J, et al. Cumulative incidence of anal cancer since HIV or AIDS diagnosis in the United States. J Natl Cancer Inst. Published online July 3, 2023. doi:10.1093/jnci/djad128
Source : Cancer Therapy Advisor
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