Anal cancer is rare in the United States, with only about 3,200 new cases in women estimated in 2010, but it is one of the few cancers where the numbers have been steadily rising. Existing research has also demonstrated an association between anal cancer and the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is a known cause of cervical cancer. In fact, HPV infection is related to 90% of anal cancers in women, which suggests that the majority of anal cancers could be prevented with the HPV vaccine.

Katina Robison, MD, a gynecologic oncologist with Women & Infants' Program in Women's Oncology and one of the hospital's Women's Reproductive Health Research (WRHR) Scholars, is the lead investigator for "Anal cytology and HPV genotyping in women with lower genital tract neoplasia.", which is collaborating with experts at UCSF.

There are three goals to the current study:

• To determine the prevalence of abnormal anal cytology among women with a recent history of cervical, vulvar or vaginal high-grade pre-cancer or cancer
• To determine the prevalence of high-risk anal HPV among women with a recent history of cervical, vulvar or vaginal high-grade pre-cancer or cancer
• To compare the prevalence of abnormal anal cytology and high-risk HPV between at-risk and low-risk women