Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in an Australian sample of anal cancers

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes most cases of anal cancers. In this study, we analyzed biopsy material from 112 patients with anal cancers in Australia for the presence of HPV DNA by the INNO LiPA HPV genotyping assay. There were 82% (92) males and 18% (20) females. The mean age at diagnosis was significantly (p = 0.006) younger for males (52.5 years) than females (66 years). HIV‐infected males were diagnosed at a much earlier mean age (48.2 years) than HIV negative (56.3 years) males (p = 0.05). HPV DNA was detected in 96.4% (108) of cases. HPV type 16 was the commonest, at 75% (81) of samples and being the sole genotype detected in 61% (66). Overall, 79% (85) of cases had at least one genotype targeted by the bivalent HPV (bHPV) vaccine, 90% (97) by the quadrivalent HPV (qHPV) vaccine and 96% (104) by the nonavalent HPV (nHPV) vaccine. The qHPV vaccine, which is now offered to all secondary school students in Australia, may prevent anal cancers in Australia. However, given the mean age of onset of this condition, the vaccine is unlikely to have a significant impact for several decades. Further research is necessary to prove additional protective effects of the nHPV vaccine. What's new? Human papillomavirus (HPV), notorious for causing cervical cancer, also causes most anal cancers. The virus comes in many varieties, and not all are equally dangerous. To determine whether existing HPV vaccines might protect against anal cancer, the authors set out to identify which HPV strains are most often involved. By analyzing tissue samples from anal cancer patients, they found that 90% of these patients carried strains of HPV targeted by the quadrivalent HPV vaccine, which is currently offered to all young people in Australia, suggesting that those who receive the vaccine could be protected from anal cancer.