title: Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus: another sexually transmitted disease.
abstract: During the past 30 years, there has been remarkable progress in our understanding of the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of the anus. It is now accepted that anal cancer is a sexually transmitted disease, which can be cured using a combination of chemo- and radiotherapy. The biology of anal cancer remains to be elucidated, as do the molecular mechanisms involved in resistance to chemoradiation. The contribution of HIV infection to tumour progression currently represents an area of intensive investigation. Finally, the growing numbers of AIDS patients who experience prolonged survival represent a population at risk. In the future, cytological screening of male homosexuals with an anal Papanicolaou test may help in identifying high-grade dysplasia and preventing anal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Clinique de Chirurgie Viscérale, Hôpital Cantonal Universitaire de Genève. pascal.gervaz@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gervaz
authors.forename: Abdelkarim S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Allal
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villiger
authors.forename: Léo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bühler
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morel
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D015897:Comorbidity; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods