Journal article

The Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer (SPANC): Design and methods of a three-year prospective cohort study

DA Machalek, AE Grulich, RJ Hillman, F Jin, DJ Templeton, SN Tabrizi, SM Garland, G Prestage, K McCaffery, K Howard, W Tong, CK Fairley, J Roberts, A Farnsworth, IM Poynten

BMC Public Health | Published : 2013

Abstract

Background: The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated anal cancer is increasing in men who have sex with men (MSM). Screening for the presumed cancer precursor, high-grade anal squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) in a manner analogous to cervical cancer screening has been proposed. Uncertainty remains regarding anal HPV natural history and the role of anal cytology and high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) as screening tests. Well-designed cohort studies are required to address these issues. Methods/design. The SPANC study is a prospective study of the epidemiology of low-risk and high-risk anal HPV infection and related cytological and histological abnormalities in HIV-negative an..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council


Funding Acknowledgements

The SPANC team thanks the participants. The SPANC study is funded by a NHMRC program grant (# 568971) and a Cancer Council NSW Strategic Research Partnership Program grant (# 13-11). IMP (# 1016307), FJ (# 571402) and DJT (# 1013353) are supported by Post-doctoral Training Fellowships from the National Health and Medical Research Council. Cytological testing materials are provided by Hologic (Australia) Pty Ltd. The Kirby Institute is affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales and funded by the Australian Government of Health and Ageing. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the position of the Australian Government.