Recently, the IMACS released a set of international guidelines that offer a foundational overview of cancer risk stratification in IIM, along with corresponding screening strategies for each risk category. In an interview with Omnihealth Practice, Dr. So, Ho and Dr. Tang, Yan-Ki Iris discussed their recently published study, which evaluated the applicability and reliability of the IMACS guidelines within the local population of Hong Kong. They provided insights into the prevalence of IIM-related cancer in Hong Kong and shared a refined model on how these recommendations can be effectively implemented in the region. 

While the standard piecemeal transurethral resection of bladder tumor (SR) has been the conventional surgical procedure for NMIBC, oncological control remains subpar, prompting the development of alternative techniques such as en bloc transurethral resection of bladder tumor (ERBT). To examine the impact of ERBT on the prognosis of NMIBC, Professor Teoh, Yuen-Chun Jeremy and his team conducted a local phase 3 randomized controlled trial, EB-StaR, that compared the 1-year recurrence rate of NMIBC with ERBT to SR.4In an interview with Omnihealth Practice, Prof. Teoh discussed the implications of the results and the future of ERBT implementation

There have been updates in the scientific understanding of cervical cancer since the prior set of cervical cancer prevention and screening guidelines was published by the Hong Kong College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (HKCOG) in 2016, including novel nomenclature developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). New technologies such as 9-valent vaccines offer wider coverage against human papillomavirus (HPV) infections that lead to cervical cancer with added coverage implemented by population-based vaccination programs like the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP). Additionally, it was reminded that HPV tests need to be clinically validated and target high-risk strains including HPV16 and HPV18 to be effective for screening and triaging.

Anal cancers are predominantly preceded by screening-detectable high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). Despite being relatively uncommon in the general population, possessing an incidence rate of 1.7 per 100,000 person-years, anal cancers disproportionately affects specific groups of individuals, particularly people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), solid organ transplant recipients and women with a history of vulvar cancer or precancer.