New research conducted by the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania (Menzies) suggests that the distribution of anal cancer in Tasmania could be different to other urban populations of Australia.

New research conducted by the Menzies Research Institute Tasmania (Menzies) suggests that the distribution of anal cancer in Tasmania could be different to other urban populations of Australia.

The study found that rural and regional populations, like Tasmania, may have different distributions of anal cancer from those in more urban settings, resulting in a need to change the target groups for screening.

In a first for Tasmania, Menzies' Honorary Associate, Professor Richard Turner and PhD student Steve Simpson, Jr. undertook the case series to evaluate the distribution of admissions for anal cancer at all Tasmanian referral centres, finding 131 cases since 1973.

Anal cancer is a relatively infrequent cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), the same virus that causes cervical cancer, and is the second most common HPV-mediated cancer after cervical cancer. 

The study found that the incidence of anal cancer in Tasmania over the last four decades has increased, mirroring that of the rest of Australia. However, compared to other research, there appeared to be under-representation of traditionally high risk groups, such as those with a history of cancer, HIV or other forms of immune suppression.

"While previous studies have shown that screening those most at risk can be an effective way to better diagnose the disease, this research suggests that rural/regional populations like Tasmania may have to be targeted differently," Professor Turner explained.

"Our study suggests that screening confined to these traditional high risk groups would have minimal impact upon persons with anal cancer in Tasmania, since most of them were women, who did not have HIV and had no history of cancer."

"Over two-thirds of the cases in Tasmania were women, with an average age of 63 years old."

Professor Turner emphasised the importance of screening for cervical cancers, even with the recent release of a vaccine against HPV.

"While this [vaccine] is a great public health achievement which can be expected to markedly reduce the frequency of anal, cervical and other cancers caused by HPV, it's important that people recognise that this effect will come over the next several decades.

"Screening for cervical cancer is still needed and indeed, the screening for anal cancer suggested here is also needed.  People can still develop and die from these cancers, so early detection is paramount."

"Further work now needs to be undertaken to look at the distribution of anal cancer in Tasmania to figure out why it seems to differ here."

In collaboration with investigators at the Tasmanian Department of Health & Human Services, the investigators will soon begin recruitment for two observational studies to further evaluate the novel epidemiology of anal cancer in Tasmania.

The paper is available to view online from the journal website: http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/SH11002.htm

Information Released by:

Fiona Horwood, Communications Manager

Phone: 6226 7751 Mobile: 0409 357 384

Email: Fiona.Horwood@menzies.utas.edu.au

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