Evolution and Epidemiological Analysis of Anal Cancer Mortality in Chile: A 10-Year Perspective (2012–2022)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16942480Keywords:
Anus Neoplasms, Mortality, Chile, EpidemiologyAbstract
Introduction: Anal cancer is a rare malignant neoplasm whose incidence has increased over recent decades, particularly due to its association with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Objective: To determine the anal cancer mortality rate in Chile between 2012 and 2022. Methods: An observational, descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted. Deaths due to anal cancer (ICD-10 code C21) recorded in Chile from 2012 to 2022 were analyzed based on official data from the Department of Health Statistics and Information (DEIS). The variables considered included cause of death, sex, age, and geographic region. Mortality rates (MR) were calculated using population projections from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Results: A total of 312 deaths from anal cancer were recorded, with an average mortality rate of 0.21 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Mortality was higher among women, particularly in 2022, when it tripled that of men. Mortality rates increased significantly among individuals over 65 years of age. The northern regions and Valparaíso presented the highest rates. Discussion: Unlike international reports, in Chile, anal cancer mortality was higher in women. Advanced age and geographic disparities reflect inequities in access to diagnosis and treatment. No linear temporal trend was observed, but certain peaks may be attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need to strengthen anal cancer prevention, screening, and treatment strategies in Chile, with particular emphasis on gender and geographic equity.
Downloads
References
[1] Mignozzi S, Santucci C, Malvezzi M, Levi F, La Vecchia C, Negri E. Global trends in anal cancer incidence and mortality. Eur J Cancer Prev [Internet]. 2024 Mar;33(2):77–86. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/CEJ.0000000000000842
[2] Gouriou C, Landemaine A, Carlo A, Boisteau E, Henno S, Thibault V, et al. High-grade intraepithelial lesions of the anus-patience: A road to wisdom. Colorectal Dis [Internet]. 2025 Mar;27(3):e70053. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/codi.70053
[3] Siddharthan RV, Lanciault C, Tsikitis VL. Anal intraepithelial neoplasia: diagnosis, screening, and treatment. Ann Gastroenterol [Internet]. 2019 May-Jun;32(3):257–63. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.20524/aog.2019.0364
[4] Gondal TA, Chaudhary N, Bajwa H, Rauf A, Le D, Ahmed S. Anal cancer: The past, present and future. Curr Oncol [Internet]. 2023 Mar;30(3):3232–50. Disponible en http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/curroncol30030246
[5] English KJ. Anal carcinoma - exploring the epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. World J Exp Med [Internet]. 2024 Mar;14(3):98525. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.5493/wjem.v14.i3.98525
[6] Stefan RE, Birla RD, Gheorghe M, Dinu DE, Hoara PA, Ciuc D, et al. Controversies and perspectives in the current management of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer—A systematic review. Life (Basel) [Internet]. 2025 Jul;15(7):1011. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/life15071011
[7] Tchelebi LT, Eng C, Messick CA, Hong TS, Ludmir EB, Kachnic LA, et al. Current treatment and future directions in the management of anal cancer. CA Cancer J Clin [Internet]. 2022 Mar-Apr;72(2):183–95. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.3322/caac.21712
[8] Benson AB, Venook AP, Al-Hawary MM, Azad N, Chen YJ, Ciombor KK, et al. Anal carcinoma, version 2.2023, NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology. J Natl Compr Canc Netw [Internet]. 2023 Jun;21(6):653–77. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2023.0030
[9] Maas M, Tielbeek JAW, Stoker J. Staging of anal cancer: role of MR imaging. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am [Internet]. 2020 Feb;28(1):127–40. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mric.2019.09.005
[10] Georgescu MT. Anal cancer: A comprehensive review of epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and therapeutic approaches. In: Anorectal Disorders - From Diagnosis to Treatment [Internet]. London: IntechOpen; 2024. Disponible en: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1165601
[11] Posada DH, Acevedo LST, Arredondo MV, Vásquez GIS. High-risk human papillomavirus infection and associated factors in the anal canal of HIV-positive patients in Medellín, 2017–2018. Rev Saude Publica [Internet]. 2020;54:93. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2020054001692
[12] Littlejohn JB, Brister KA. Management of recurrent anal cancer. Surg Oncol Clin N Am [Internet]. 2025 Jan;34(1):91–101. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soc.2024.07.005
[13] Eng C, Jácome AA, Das P, Chang GJ, Rodriguez-Bigas M, Skibber JM, et al. A phase II study of capecitabine/oxaliplatin with concurrent radiotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal. Clin Colorectal Cancer [Internet]. 2019 Dec;18(4):301–6. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clcc.2019.06.003
[14] Honaryar MK, Tarasenko Y, Almonte M, Smelov V. Epidemiology of cancers in men who have sex with men (MSM): A protocol for umbrella review of systematic reviews. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2020 Jul;17(14):4954. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17144954
[15] Kouzy R, Abi Jaoude J, Lin D, El Alam MB, Minsky BD, Koay EJ, et al. Patient-reported GI outcomes in patients with anal cancer receiving modern chemoradiation. JCO Oncol Pract [Internet]. 2020 Dec;16(12):e1524–31. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/OP.20.00122
[16] Dee EC, Byrne JD, Wo JY. Evolution of the role of radiotherapy for anal cancer. Cancers (Basel) [Internet]. 2021 Mar;13(6):1208. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cancers13061208
[17] Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin [Internet]. 2024 May-Jun;74(3):229–63. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.3322/caac.21834
[18] Bray F, Laversanne M, Weiderpass E, Soerjomataram I. The ever-increasing importance of cancer as a leading cause of premature death worldwide. Cancer [Internet]. 2021 Aug;127(16):3029–30. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cncr.33587
[19] Hirsch B, Vail RM, Shah SS, Fine SM, McGowan JP, Merrick ST, et al. Screening for anal dysplasia and cancer in adults with HIV [Internet]. Baltimore (MD): Johns Hopkins University; 2025. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556472/
[20] Ministerio de Salud, Gobierno de Chile. Informe de vigilancia del cáncer en Chile 2023 [Internet]. Santiago: Ministerio de Salud; 2023 [cited 2025 Jul 6]. Disponible en: https://www.minsal.cl/estadisticas-cancer/
[21] Maringe C, Spicer J, Morris M, Purushotham A, Nolte E, Sullivan R, et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer deaths due to delays in diagnosis in England, UK: a national, population-based, modelling study. Lancet Oncol [Internet]. 2020 Aug;21(8):1023–34. Disponible en: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30388-0
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Adolfo Labbé Vásquez, Catalina Barra Olivares, Alexander Morales Flores, Oylen Ayavire Soto, Paula Miranda Bugueño, Javiera Campaña Alejos (Autor/a)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
