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

Objective: To investigate the effects of radical radiotherapy combined with different chemotherapy regimens (fluorouracil-based versus docetaxel plus cisplatin) on the incidence of radiation intestinal injury and the prognosis in patients with non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to recruit non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent chemoradiotherapy in the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Nanfang Hospital from July 2013 to January 2021. Inclusion criteria: (1) newly diagnosed anal and perianal squamous cell carcinoma; (2) completed radical radiotherapy combined with concurrent chemotherapy; (3) tumor could be evaluated before radiotherapy. Exclusion criteria: (1) no imaging evaluation before treatment, or the tumor stage could not be determined; (2) patients undergoing local or radical resection before radiotherapy; (3) distant metastasis occurred before or during treatment; (4) recurrent anal squamous cell carcinoma. A total of 55 patients (48 from the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and 7 from Nanfang Hospital) were given fluorouracil (the 5-FU group, n=34) or docetaxel combined with the cisplatin (the TP group, n=21). The evaluation of radiation intestinal injury, hematological toxicity and 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate were compared between the two groups. The effects of chemotherapy regimen and other clinicopathological factors on the incidence and severity of acute and chronic radiation intestinal injury were analyzed. The assessment of radiation intestinal injury was based on the American Cancer Radiotherapy Cooperation Group (RTOG) criteria. Results: During radiotherapy and within 3 months after radiotherapy, a total of 45 patients developed acute radiation intestinal injury, including 18 cases of grade 1 (32.7%), 22 cases of grade 2 (40.0%) and 5 cases of grade 3 (9.1%). No patient developed chronic radiation intestinal injury. Among the 34 patients in the 5-FU group, 21 had grade 2-3 radiation intestinal injury (21/34, 61.8%), which was significantly higher than that in the TP group (6/21, 28.6%) (χ(2)=5.723, P=0.017). Multivariate analysis showed that 5-FU chemotherapy regimen was an independent risk factor for radiation intestinal injury (HR=4.038, 95% CI: 1.250-13.045, P=0.020). With a median follow-up period of 26 (5-94) months, the 3-year DFS rate of patients in TP group and 5-FU group was 66.8% and 77.9%, respectively, whose difference was not significant (P=0.478). Univariate analysis showed that the DFS rate was associated with sex, age, tumor location, T stage, N stage, and induction chemotherapy (all P<0.05), while the DFS rate was not associated with chemotherapy regimen or radiation intestinal injury (both P>0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that age ≥ 50 years old was an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of patients (HR=8.301, 95% CI: 1.130-60.996, P=0.038). Conclusions: For patients with non-metastatic anal squamous cell carcinoma, radical radiotherapy combined with TP chemotherapy regimen can significantly reduce the incidence of radiation intestinal injury as compared to 5-FU regimen. However, due to the short follow-up time, the effect of different chemotherapy regimens on the prognosis is not yet clear.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Anus Neoplasms/radiotherapy* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/radiotherapy* ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Cisplatin/therapeutic use* ; Fluorouracil/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the dosimetric difference between simultaneous integrated boost intensity-modulated radiotherapy (SIB-IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), and the clinical outcomes of anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) chemoradiotherapy featuring SIB-IMRT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included ten patients with ASCC who underwent chemoradiotherapy using SIB-IMRT with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C. SIB-IMRT delivered 54 Gy to each primary tumor plus metastatic lymph nodes and 45 Gy to regional lymph nodes, in 30 fractions. Four patients received additional boosts to the primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes; the median total dose was 54 Gy (range, 54 to 60 Gy). We additionally created 3DCRT plans following the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 9811 protocol to allow dosimetric comparisons with SIB-IMRT. Locoregional control, overall survival, and toxicity were calculated for the clinical outcome evaluation. RESULTS: Compared to 3DCRT, SIB-IMRT significantly reduced doses to the external genitalia, bladder, and intestine, delivering the doses to target and elective nodal region. At a median follow-up time of 46 months, 3-year locoregional control and overall survival rates were 88.9% and 100%, respectively. Acute toxicities were treated conservatively. All patients completed radiotherapy with brief interruptions (range, 0 to 2 days). No patient experienced ≥grade 3 late toxicity during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The dosimetric advantages of SIB-IMRT appeared to reduce the toxicity of chemoradiotherapy for ASCC achieving high locoregional control in the extended period.
Anus Neoplasms ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Epithelial Cells* ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Intestines ; Lymph Nodes ; Mitomycin ; Radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated* ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder

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 evaluate the appropriateness of prophylactic inguinal nodal irradiation (PINI), we analyzed patterns of failure in anal cancer patients who were inguinal node-negative at presentation and did not receive PINI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 33 anal cancer patients treated by definitive concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) between 1994 and 2013. Radiotherapy consisted of a total dose of 44-45 Gy (22-25 fractions in 5 weeks) on the whole pelvis, anus, and perineum. Except inguinal lymphadenopathy was present at initial diagnosis, the entire inguinal chain was not included in the radiation field. In other words, there was no PINI. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 50 months (range, 4 to 218 months). Median survival and progression-free survival (PFS) were 57 months (range, 10 to 218 months) and 50 months (range, 4 to 218 months), respectively. Among the survival, the median follow-up duration was 51 months (range, 12 to 218 months). The 5-year overall survival and PFS rates were 93.4% and 88.8%, respectively. Although none of the patients received inguinal node irradiation for prophylactic purposes, there was no inguinal recurrence. CONCLUSION: Treatment of anal cancer by omitting PINI might be considered in selected patients with clinically uninvolved inguinal nodes.
Anal Canal ; Anus Neoplasms* ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Pelvis ; Perineum ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: To evaluate the appropriateness of prophylactic inguinal nodal irradiation (PINI), we analyzed patterns of failure in anal cancer patients who were inguinal node-negative at presentation and did not receive PINI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 33 anal cancer patients treated by definitive concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) between 1994 and 2013. Radiotherapy consisted of a total dose of 44-45 Gy (22-25 fractions in 5 weeks) on the whole pelvis, anus, and perineum. Except inguinal lymphadenopathy was present at initial diagnosis, the entire inguinal chain was not included in the radiation field. In other words, there was no PINI. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 50 months (range, 4 to 218 months). Median survival and progression-free survival (PFS) were 57 months (range, 10 to 218 months) and 50 months (range, 4 to 218 months), respectively. Among the survival, the median follow-up duration was 51 months (range, 12 to 218 months). The 5-year overall survival and PFS rates were 93.4% and 88.8%, respectively. Although none of the patients received inguinal node irradiation for prophylactic purposes, there was no inguinal recurrence. CONCLUSION: Treatment of anal cancer by omitting PINI might be considered in selected patients with clinically uninvolved inguinal nodes.
Anal Canal ; Anus Neoplasms* ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Pelvis ; Perineum ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

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: 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

PURPOSE: The clinical features, treatment modality approaches in clinical practice, and prognostic factors for anal canal carcinoma patients were retrospectively analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 1994 and December 2005, 50 patients with anal canal cancer were treated at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. RESULTS: After a median follow up of 37.8 months (range, 6.6-136.1 months), the 5-year and 10-year survival rates for the 38 patients with early and locally advanced squamous and cloacogenic carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma and cloacogenic carcinoma) were 74.8% and 66.5%, respectively. The 5-year survival and disease-free survival rates (DFS) of the 31 patients who received chemoradiation therapy (CRT) were 83.6% and 74.3%, respectively. The overall and DFS could not be determined for the adenocarcinoma group due to the small number of cases (n=8). Univariate analysis showed that tumor size (p=0.04) and inguinal node status (p=0.04) significantly influenced patient survival in patients with squamous cell and cloacogenic carcinomas. Furthermore, univariate analysis also showed that, inguinal node status influenced patient survival in the adenocarcinoma group. Multivariate analysis showed that inguinal node metastasis is a single independent prognostic variable for survival (p=0.04) in patients with squamous cell and cloacogenic carcinomas. CONCLUSION: Combined CRT has been adopted as standard treatment with outcomes that are comparable to those reported in randomized clinical trials. Due to the rarity and complexity of anal canal carcinoma, interdepartmental cooperation is required for disease treatment. Thus, proper treatment of patients should incorporate a team-approach and should be available to as many patients as possible.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anus Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology/*therapy ; Carcinoma/diagnosis/pathology/*therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome