The rising incidence of anal cancer in England 1990-2010: a population-based study

Aim: Although anal cancer is rare, its incidence has been reported to be rising in several countries. This study aimed to determine whether there have been any changes in incidence over time in England.

Method: In the cancer registry component of the English National Cancer Data Repository, 13 940 patients were identified with a primary diagnosis of anal cancer made between 1990 and 2010. Tumours were grouped according to the ICD-O morphology codes into squamous cell carcinoma, basaloid and cloacogenic carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and other cancer types. The incidence over this period was investigated in relation to type of tumour, age and sex.

Results: In men there was a 69% increase in squamous cell anal carcinoma from 0.43 per 100 000 population in 1990-94 to 0.73 in 2006-10. For women these rates were 0.50 in 1990-94 and 1.13 in 2006-10, a rise of 126%.

Conclusion: The study showed that between 1990 and 2010 there was a substantial rise in the incidence of anal cancer in England. This effect was more marked in women than men.