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Characteristics of anal canal squamous cell carcinoma as an HPV-associated cancer in Japan

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Abstract

The definition of the anal canal was revised in the TNM classification (8th edition). The Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) conducted a retrospective multi-institutional study to clarify the characteristics of anal canal cancer (ACC) in Japan. The diagnoses of 1781 patients treated for ACC were squamous cell carcimoma (SCC; n = 428; 24.0%), adenosquamous cell carcinoma (n = 7; 0.4%), and adenocarcinoma (n = 1260; 70.7%). Anal carcinoma is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and is risk factor for anal SCC. Among 40 cases analyzed at Takano Hospital and 47 cases analyzed at National Cancer Center Hospital, 34 cases (85.0%) and 40 cases (85.1%), respectively were infected with HPV; HPV-16 was the most common genotype (79.4% and 82.5%). In the JSCCR retrospective multi-institutional study, the prognosis analysis by stage was performed for anal SCC cases (202 cases treated by CRT and 91 cases treated by surgery). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rates by stage did not differ between the two treatment groups to a statistically significant extent. Regarding the results of cancer treatment of patients who underwent HPV infection tests, although the 5-year OS rates by stage did not differ to a statistically significant extent due to the small number of cases, HPV-positive patients had better survival. While an HPV vaccine for anal canal SCC has already been approved internationally, HPV vaccination has already been implemented in Japan as a national immunization program for young women but not for men at present. An HPV vaccination for men is urgently needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Coloproctology Center Takano Hospital, 3-2-55 Oe, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 862-0971, Japan

    Kazutaka Yamada, Yasumitsu Saiki, Shota Takano, Masafumi Tanaka, Mitsuko Fukunaga, Yasushi Nakamura, Daisaku Kuwahara, Yoriyuki Tsuji & Masahiro Takano

  2. Division of Genome Biology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan

    Kouya Shiraishi & Daisuke Takayanagi

  3. Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan

    Atsuo Takashima

  4. Division of Medical Information Research, Coloproctology Center Takano Hospital, 3-2-55 Oe, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 862-0971, Japan

    Kosuke Sugimoto & Yuki Iwasaki

  5. Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan

    Kenichi Sugihara

  6. Division of Molecular and Diagnostic Pathology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 757 Ichibancho, Asahimachi-dori, Chuo Ward, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan

    Yoichi Ajioka

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  1. Kazutaka Yamada
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  2. Kouya Shiraishi
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  3. Atsuo Takashima
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  4. Daisuke Takayanagi
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  6. Shota Takano
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  9. Kosuke Sugimoto
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  10. Yuki Iwasaki
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  11. Yasushi Nakamura
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Correspondence to Kazutaka Yamada.

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Yamada, K., Shiraishi, K., Takashima, A. et al. Characteristics of anal canal squamous cell carcinoma as an HPV-associated cancer in Japan. Int J Clin Oncol 28, 990–998 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-023-02339-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-023-02339-5

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