Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually
transmitted disease worldwide and most sexually active individuals of both sexes
acquire HPV at least once during their life. This virus is associated with >90% of anal
and cervical cancers. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection increases
incidence of both invasive cervical cancer and anal cancer. The risk of anal HPV
infection declines with age in women, whereas this is not the case in men. Prophylactic
HPV vaccines represent a promise for cervical and anal cancer prevention in HIVpositive
people. Still now, no data are available for prevention of HPV related cancers
with anti-HPV vaccination in adult HIV-positive people, but several trials are on-going.
Both vaccines are well tolerated and the adverse effects are comparable to those
observed in HIV negative people. However, an implementation of secondary
prevention would be useful to reduce cervical and anal cancer incidence and mortality
after a much shorter interval in all infected people, even in aged subjects.
Keywords: Anal cancer, Cervical cancer, Human papillomavirus (HPV), Human
Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Prevention, Vaccine.
