The role of human papillomaviruses in anogenital cancers

There is substantial evidence to suggest that common risk factors exist for cancer of the cervix and other anogenital cancers. Cervical cancer has been etiologically linked with venereal types of human papillomavirus (HPV) and the same types of HPV are being found in other anogenital tissues. The question is to what extent these HPV types may also contribute to carcinogenesis in anogenital cancer other than cervical cancer. In this review some general aspects of the natural history of HPV are presented followed by a description of the incidence and risk factors for anal, vulvar, and penile cancer. Main focus is given to the evidence for an association between these cancers and HPV.