Abstract
IntroductionHuman papillomavirus (HPV) is a well-established cause of cervical cancer and is increasingly recognized as an important risk factor for non-cervical cancers, including oropharyngeal, anal, vulvar, vaginal, and penile cancers. This study assessed temporal trends in the incidence of HPV-related cervical and non-cervical cancers in Canada and the Netherlands by sex assigned at birth and cancer type using population-based registry data.MethodsThis study is a registry-based observational study, in which we analyzed retrospective data from the Canadian Cancer Registry (1992-2022) and the Netherlands Cancer Registry (2000-2019) for HPV-related cancers. Age-standardized incidence rates, annual percentage changes (APC), and average annual percentage changes (AAPC), with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), were estimated using Joinpoint regression.ResultsIn Canada, cervical cancer incidence rate generally declined since 1992 but has increased by 1.1% (0.5, 2.7) annually between 2013 and 2022. In the Netherlands, cervical cancer rates remained stable until 2015, followed by a 5.1% (1.9, 11.5) annual increase between 2015 and 2019. Non-cervical HPV-related cancers generally increased in both countries. In Canada, from 1992 to 2022, incidence rates increased for oropharyngeal (AAPC: 2.0% [1.6, 2.4]), anal (1.7% [1.3, 2.2]), and vulvovaginal (1.9% [1.6, 2.3]) cancers. In the Netherlands, from 2000 to 2019, incidence rates increased for anal (5.3% [4.2, 6.8]), vulvar (3.0% [2.2, 4.0]), penile cancers (2.8% [1.7, 4.0]), and oropharyngeal cancer (0.7% [0.1, 1.2]).ConclusionIn general, we observed similar trends in both countries: that the incidence of HPV-related cervical and non-cervical cancers in Canada and the Netherlands is rising. These findings highlight the need to expand HPV vaccination programs, optimize HPV-related cancer screening programs, and enhance public health initiatives for the prevention and early detection of non-cervical HPV-related cancers.