WOMEN & INFANTS’ RESEARCHERS PUBLISH ON CONNECTION BETWEEN ANAL CANCER, HPV
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Rhode Island – Researchers at Women & Infants Hospital
England hospital, recently published the results of a study demonstrating a
connection between anal cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
The study – entitled «Anal Cytology and Human Papillomavirus Genotyping in Women
with a History of Lower Genital Tract Neoplasia Compared with Low-Risk Women» – was
published in a recent issue of the professional journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.
The publication extends the research of Katina Robison,
MD
Women’s Oncology
Infants. The initial research, presented at the 2014 HPV Conference, indicated an
increased likelihood that the two diseases would coexist in some women.
«HPV is associated with anal cancer, which is more common among women. In 2014
alone, there were 7,200 cases of anal cancer noted and 4,500 of them are women. We
believe that certain women with a history of an HPV-related genital infection would
benefit greatly from anal cancer screening,» says Dr. Robison, who is also an
assistant professor and co-director of colposcopy at The Warren Alpert Medical
School of Brown University.
Anal cancer screening is routinely performed using anal cytology in HIV positive men
and women, as well as in men having sex with men. Knowing that anal cancer is five
times more likely in women with a history of cervical, vaginal or vulvar cancer,
which are all linked to HPV, Dr. Robison wanted to evaluate the feasibility of
screening HIV negative women with anal cytology and HPV testing.
The research – conducted from December 2012 to February 2014 – examined 273 women
recruited through Women & Infants’ outpatient clinics. Anal cytology and HPV
genotyping were performed. All women with abnormal anal cytology were referred for
high-resolution anoscopy. Biopsies were also conducted at the discretion of the
colorectal surgeon.
The 273 women were divided into two groups – the «high-risk group» who had a history
of cervical, vaginal or vulvar cancer, and the «low-risk group» who had no history
of cancer, dysplasia or abnormal Pap smears. Of those, 40 percent of the high-risk
group and 21.7 percent of the low-risk group were found to have abnormal anal
cytology. In the high-risk group, 20.8 percent were found to have high-risk HPV, but
only 1.2 percent of the low-risk group.
The study also included the work of other scientists affiliated with Women &
Infants. Listed as co-authors were: Beth Cronin,
MD
Christine Luis, MS; Paul DiSilvestro,
MD
MD; Latha Pisharodi, MD; Christina Raker, ScD; Amy Bregar, MD; and Joel Palefsky,
MD.
Women interested in making an appointment with Dr. Robison or other providers with
the Program in Women’s Oncology at Women & Infants can call (401) 453-7520.
About Women & Infants Hospital
Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
New England hospital, is one of the nation’s leading specialty hospitals for women
and newborns. A major teaching affiliate of The Warren Alpert Medical School of
Brown University for obstetrics, gynecology and newborn pediatrics, as well as a
number of specialized programs in women’s medicine, Women & Infants is the 12th
largest stand-alone obstetrical service in the country with approximately 8,400
deliveries per year. A Baby-Friendly(r) USA hospital, U.S.News & World Report
2014-15 Best Children’s Hospital in Neonatology and a 2014 Leapfrog Top Hospital, in
2009 Women & Infants opened what was at the time the country’s largest,
single-family room neonatal intensive care unit.
Women & Infants and Brown offer fellowship programs in gynecologic oncology,
maternal-fetal medicine, urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery,
neonatal-perinatal medicine, pediatric and perinatal pathology, gynecologic
pathology and cytopathology, and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. It is
home to the nation’s only mother-baby perinatal psychiatric partial hospital, as
well as the nation’s only fellowship program in obstetric medicine.
Women & Infants has been designated as a Breast Center of Excellence by the American
College of Radiography; a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology; a
Center for In Vitro Maturation Excellence by SAGE In Vitro Fertilization; a Center
of Biomedical Research Excellence by the National Institutes of Health (NIH); and a
Neonatal Resource Services Center of Excellence. It is one of the largest and most
prestigious research facilities in high risk and normal obstetrics, gynecology and
newborn pediatrics in the nation, and is a member of the National Cancer Institute’s
Gynecologic Oncology Group and the Pelvic Floor Disorders Network.