A Brief Review of Anal Cancer Screening Methods for Prevention and Earlier Diagnosis

Abstract

Anal cancer has shown increasing incidence and death rates in recent years despite their lower incidence rate in the general population. Various risk factors contribute to this upward trend, with sexual risk factors playing a notable role. Additionally, there is a strong correlation between patients' survival rates and clinical outcomes with tumor stages, underscoring the importance of developing effective screening methods for anal cancer, particularly in high-risk groups. The well-established link between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and anal tumors, combined with the success of cervical cancer screening programs, has led to some similarities in anal cancer screening strategies. However, the absence of established guidelines for anal cancer screening indicates a need for further research to assess the efficacy of these methods across different populations. Such research would enhance knowledge, awareness, and motivation for participation in screening programs. In this review, we will discuss various anal screening approaches, including their characteristics, novel biomarkers, and molecular methods, as well as prevention strategies and existing limitations in anal screening.

Keywords: anal cytology; anoscopy; anus neoplasms; human papillomavirus; sexual behavior.

Figure 1. Primary prevention strategies and approaches to anal cancer screening

[18,35,38,41,65,68,72,74,80,83] Primary prevention strategies and anal cancer screening approaches are closely interconnected with the need to disseminate more extensive information to high-risk populations. It is essential to provide these populations with comprehensive information about HPV/HIV infection and other risk factors. This increased awareness can enhance their understanding of the importance of anal cancer screening and preventive measures, especially in the absence of established guidelines. ASC-US: typical squamous cells of undetermined significance; HIV: human immunodeficiency virus; HPV: human papillomavirus; HRA: high-resolution anoscopy; SCC: squamous cell carcinoma The image is created by Peyvand Parhizkar Roudsari