A Curtin University-led project will investigate how vaccinations may help reduce the risk of anal cancer, after being awarded more than $1 million in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funding.
Rates of anal cancer are growing in Australia, particularly among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM).
In 90 per cent of cases, human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of anal cancer, despite HPV vaccination programs being implemented in Australian schools across all sexes since 2013.
Research lead Associate Professor Jonathan Hallett, from the Curtin School of Population Health, said there was a critical protection gap among adults aged over 35 years who were not eligible for vaccination during adolescence.
“Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men are up to 20 times more likely to develop anal cancer than the general population, yet many older men missed out on vaccination when it was first introduced in schools,” Associate Professor Hallett said.
The study will involve more than 1800 participants from Western Australia and New South Wales undergoing HPV screening, with researchers comparing infection rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated men.
Participants will test innovative self-sampling methods for HPV screening, which could remove embarrassment and stigma barriers and pave the way for a national screening framework.
The team of health promotion, sexual health, immunisation, epidemiology and other public health experts from Curtin and community health organisations will also interview participants and healthcare providers to better understand barriers to vaccination and screening uptake.
“This project will provide the first real-world evidence on whether extending HPV vaccination can protect this group and reduce cancer rates, while also testing the feasibility of self-sampling for early detection,” Associate Professor Hallett said.
“This research emerged directly from community-identified priorities and by working alongside GBMSM communities, healthcare providers and policy leaders, we can ensure our findings translate into practical recommendations for vaccination policy, clinical guidelines, and health promotion.
“It will help close a critical health equity gap affecting one of Australia’s most impacted populations.”
Curtin Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Melinda Fitzgerald said the project demonstrates Curtin’s commitment to improving health equity and addressing the needs of underrepresented communities.
“By combining strong scientific design with genuine community partnership, this work has the potential to change national vaccination policy, reduce preventable cancer burden and save lives,” Professor Fitzgerald said.
