Among the 63 patients with histopathologically proven primary squamous cell anal cancer who were managed in Presbyterian Medical Center and Yonsei University Cancer from Jan. 1971 to Dec. 1991, 34 patients, who were managed with surgery alone (abdominoperineal resection) or post-operative radiotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy were analyzed. With mean follow up time of 81.3 months, 30 patients (88%) were followed up from 17 to 243 months. In methods, 10 patients were treated with surgery alone. 9 patients were treated with combined surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (59~60 Gy in 28~30 fractions). 15 patients were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Chemotherapy (Mitomycin C 15 mg/squ, bolus injection day 1;5-FU, 750 mg/squ, 24hr infusion, day 1 to 5) and radiotherapy started the same day. A dose of 30 Gy was given to the tumor and to the pelvis including inguinal nodes, in 15 fractions. After 2 weeks a boost of radiotherapy (20 Gy) to the ano-perineal area and second cycle of chemotherapy completed the treatment. The overall 50year survival rate was 56.2%. concurrent chemoradiotherapy group was 70% and surgery alone group was 16.7%. According to the cox proportional harzard model, there was significant different between survival with concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgery alone (p=0.0129), but post-operative radiotherapy was 64.8%, which was not stastically significant (p=0.1412). In concurrent chemoradiotherapy group, the anal function preservation rate was 87% and the severe complication rate (grade 3 stenosis and incontinence) was 13.3%. In conclusion, we conclude that the concurrent chemoradiotherapy may be effective treatment modality in patients with anal cancer
Anus Neoplasms* ; Chemoradiotherapy* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pelvis ; Protestantism ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate

Distant metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma from the anal canal is an uncommon event. However, hematogenous spread to the vertebrae may occur in the course of this disease. The route of metastasis from the anal canal seems to be Batson's vertebral venous system. A 52-year-old female patient presented with lower back and right leg pain of one-week history. She has undergone radiotherapy and chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal and then was followed by surgical resection. Three months later, magnetic resonance images of the lumbar spine disclosed a well-enhanced mass of L5 vertebral body compressing the thecal sac. Surgical decompression and biopsy were performed. Histopathological study confirmed carcinoma of the squamous cell origin. We report a rare case of vertebral metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal with a pertinent review of literature.
Anal Canal* ; Anus Neoplasms ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Decompression, Surgical ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Leg ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Radiotherapy ; Spine

PURPOSE: To analyze the patterns of failure and prognostic factors affecting the local control and survivals in anal cancer treated with definitive radiotherapy, and to find the most effective treatment modality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients, with primary cancers of the anal canal, were treated using radiotherapy, both with and without 5-FU based concurrent chemotherapy. According to the AJCC tumor stage, six patients hadwere stage I, 11 had stage II, 2 had stage IIIA, and 11 had stage IIIB tumors. The median radiation dose was 45 Gy (30-72 Gy), and with 23 patients receivinged concurrent chemotherapy (5-FU and mitomycin C in 12 patients, 5-FU and cisplatin in 7, and other drugs in 4). The Mmedian follow up period was 43 months, (ranginge, from 8- to 99 months). RESULTS: Among the 1630 patients who16 were treated without surgical resection beforeprior to the radiotherapy, and a complete remission was observed in 12 patients (75%), a partial remission in 3 (19%), and a local progression in the other one patient. The Llocal failures, including persistent disease, were observed in 10 (33%), and the patients with higher T-stages (T3-4) had higher rates of local failure rates (T1-2, 21% vs. T3-4, 72%, p=0.03). Distant metastases were found in 4 patients (13%). The five year survival and disease free survival rates were 64% and 53%, respectively. The factors which affectinged the 5 year local relapse free survival were T-stage (74.9% in T1-2 vs. 28.6% in T3-4, p=0.01), and the existence of a gross tumor beforeprior to radiotherapy (84.6%, no residual vs. 45.1% with residual, p=0.03). CONCLUSION: A Llocal recurrence was the major failure pattern in anal cancers, and the factors affecting a local failure were the T-stage and tumor volume beforeprior to radiotherapy. A Rradiation dose around 45 Gy was sufficient to control tumors of the earlier T stage tumors, but a higher dose should be considered for with more advanced lesions.
Anal Canal ; Anus Neoplasms* ; Cisplatin ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mitomycin ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radiotherapy* ; Recurrence ; Tumor Burden

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to analyze the efficacy and sphincter preservation rate of platinum based neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radiotherapy versus abdominoperineal resection and postoperative radiotherapy for anal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of forty-two patients with anal cancer were retrospectively analyzed. Among thirty-eight patients with epidermoid histology, four patients received radiotherapy, and nineteen patients received abdominoperineal resection and adjuvant radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy (APR+RT+/-CT), and fifteen patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy (CRT). The CRT regimen was composed of three cycles of 5-fluorouracil (1,000 mg/m2 bolus on D1-5) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2 bolus on D1) followed by 50.4 Gy to the tumor bed and regional lymphatics over 5.5 weeks. Both inguinal lymphatics were treated with an identical dose schedule. Residual disease was treated with an additional three cycles of identical adjuvant chemotherapy. An identical dose schedule was used for post-operative radiotherapy. Median follow-up period was eighty-five months. RESULTS: Overall five-year survival rates were 80.3%, 88.9 and 79.4% for entire patients, APR+RT+/-CT group, and the CRT group, respectively. No significant difference was found between the two groups (p= 0.49). Anus preservation rate for the CRT group was 86.7%. Age (p=0.0164) and performance status (p= 0.0007) were found to be significant prognostic factors by univariate analysis. Age (p=0.0426), performance status (p=0.0068), and inguinal lymph node metastasis (p=0.0093) were statistically significant prognostic factors by multivariate analysis. No case of RTOG grade 3 complication or higher was reported. CONCLUSION: This and other recent studies have shown that combined chemotherapy plus radiotherapy for anal cancer results in a high rate of anal sphincter preservation as well as local control and survival. Furthermore, neoadjuvant use of chemotherapy with a cisplatin based regimen rather than a concurrent regimen may lead to a decrease in complications.
Anal Canal ; Anus Neoplasms* ; Appointments and Schedules ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Platinum ; Radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was performed to evaluate clinicopathologic findings, outcomes according to the treatment modality, and prognostic factors in anal cancer. METHODS: Among the 64 patients who were diagnosed as anal cancer at our department from September 1986 to December 1999, 55 patients were analysed retrospectively. Nine patients who refused the treatment or whose medical record could not be retrieved were excluded. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy was performed for twenty-seven patients with squamous cell carcinoma. The chemotherapy with 5-FU and cisplatin and the radiotherapy were started at the same time. 750 mg/m2/day of 5-FU was infused intravenously for 5 days and 100 mg/m2 of cisplatin was started on the second day of therapy. The second cycle chemotherapy was given for 5 days before the radiotherapy was completed. A dose of 5,400cGy was given to the primary lesion and whole pelvis including inguinal area. Eight patients with squamous cell carcinoma were treated by surgery including abdominoperineal resection, local excision, or wide excision. Abdominoperineal resection was the primary treatment modality for melanoma of anus. RESULTS: Among 55 patients with anal cancer, the dominant histologic type was squamous carcinoma (n=35), followed by cloacogenic carcinoma (n=6) and melanoma (n=6). The clinical stages by AJCC were classified as stage I: 4 cases, stage II: 15 cases, stage III: 29 cases, stage IV: 7 cases. The overall 5-year survival rate of anal cancer was 60%. The 5-year survival rate in squamous carcinoma was 79.9% for the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group (n=27) and 54.7% for the surgical resection group (n=8), which was statistically insignificant. Variables affecting the survival rate with statistical significance were age, the initial tumor size, and the state of lymph node and distant metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: The concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anus offered the same outcomes equivalent to surgical modality and preserved anal sphincter function. Melanoma of the anus exhibited poor prognosis and more systemic recurrence regardless of treatment modality. On univariate analysis for risk factors, age, tumor size, and lymph node and distant metastasis had statistical significance.
Anal Canal* ; Anus Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvis ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term oncologic outcomes after concurrent chemoradiation treatment for anal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1979 and December 2008, the records of 50 consecutive patients with anal cancer and who were treated by chemoradiation or radiation only with a curative intent were retrospectively reviewed. The oncologic outcomes and the risk factors for recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 50 patients, 49 underwent concurrent chemoradiation and one underwent radiation only. After these definitive treatments, 43 (86.0%) achieved a clinical complete response. During the median follow-up of 60 months (range: 2-202 months), the 5-year overall survival, disease-free survival, and locoregional recurrence-free survival were 84.2%, 72.7%, and 69.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the performance status (p=0.031) and a clinical complete response (p=0.039) were the independent predictors for overall survival; lymph node involvement (p=0.031) was the only independent predictor for disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: The performance status and a clinical complete response may be reliable predictors of survival after chemoradiation for anal cancer. The addition of irradiation to the inguinal area may not be significantly associated with the outcomes.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anus Neoplasms/*drug therapy/*radiotherapy ; Chemoradiotherapy/*methods ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Recurrence ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome