March is the Anal Cancer Awareness Month and at Frontiers in Oncology we want to highlight the recent discoveries in the field and raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis, multidisciplinary management, and technological innovation support.
Anal cancer is a rare disease and uncommon cancer representative of less than 3% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been identified as the primary risk factor. Anal cancer is categorised into two types: anal canal cancer and perianal cancer. The primary treatment for non-metastatic anal cancer is currently radiation and chemotherapy in addition to potential surgical treatment dependent on the stage of the disease.
As part of our commitment to advance knowledge and treatment in this area, it is crucial to address the barriers that currently limit the effectiveness of early detection and comprehensive management strategies. Early diagnosis significantly enhances the likelihood of successful treatment outcomes, yet it remains a challenge due to the disease's rarity and lack of awareness among both healthcare professionals and the general population. Educating both communities on the key symptoms and available screening methods is vital. Furthermore, integrating a multidisciplinary approach, which combines the expertise of oncologists, surgeons, radiation therapists, and supportive care specialists, has shown promise in improving treatment protocols and patient care. In parallel with clinical initiatives, technological innovations play a pivotal role in improving diagnostic precision and treatment delivery. Advances in imaging technologies and minimally invasive techniques provide new avenues for detecting and targeting cancerous cells more accurately than ever before. These innovations could pave the way for more personalized treatment plans, reducing the side effects associated with conventional therapies, and improving the quality of life for patients during and after treatment.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular research into the development of anal cancer, advancements in the treatment and management as well as diagnostic techniques to assist prevention of the disease. By collectively bringing cutting-edge research in the field of the rare disease of anal cancer, we hope to explore and deepen our understanding of innovative therapeutic strategies and novel approaches to improve patient outcomes.
We welcome Original Research, Review, Systematic Reviews, Case Reports and Mini-Reviews.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
Keywords: anal cancer, oncology, cancer, treatment, diagnosis, awareness
Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
