Risk factors for anal cancer: results of a population-based case--control study.
OBJECTIVE
Although the incidence of anal cancer is higher in women than in men, the reasons for this gender difference are not clear. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for anal cancer in both men and women.


METHODS
We conducted in-person interviews with 102 males and 106 females with squamous or transitional cell carcinoma of the anus and 208 individually matched controls.


RESULTS
Compared with persons who had never experienced receptive anal intercourse, those who had experienced it more than 130 times were 18 times as likely to develop anal cancer (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 17.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-234). This elevated risk occurred primarily among males. The adjusted OR for males having more than 10% of their sexual experiences with other men was 5.6 (95% CI = 1.4-22.0). A history of other anogenital or endometrial cancers increased the risk in women but not men. A history of anal warts, syphilis, severe hemorrhoids, physical inactivity, multiple sexual partners who smoked, and current smoking were also associated with increased risk.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that both sexual and non-sexual factors are important in the etiology of anal cancer.
Tseng
Hung-Fu
HF
Department of Healthcare Administration, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC. tsenghf2000@yahoo.com.tw
Morgenstern
Hal
H
Mack
Thomas M
TM
Peters
Ruth K
RK
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires