title: Epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal: treatment by combined radiation and chemotherapy.
abstract: From June 1985 to September 1991, 44 patients with epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal were treated prospectively by a protocol of combined radiation and chemotherapy (RCT) with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C (MTC). External radiation was delivered with 10 MV photons and single daily fractions between 1.8 and 2 Gy in an uninterrupted course up to a median total dose of 50 Gy. 5-FU was given by a continuous intravenous infusion (1 g/m2/day) for 96 h on days 1-4 and 29-32, MTC by a single bolus intravenous injection of 10 mg/m2 on days 1 and 29. The actuarial survival rate, no evidence of disease (NED) survival rate and local tumour control rate were 84%, 71% and 83% at 5 years. Anorectal function was retained in 33 of 41 patients (80%). Severe acute toxicity including three fatal outcomes was observed and there was an acceptable late morbidity. The only marginally significant prognostic factor (p = 0.06) for local tumour control was T-stage. RCT can provide good local control and preserve anal function with acceptable morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Therapy, University Hospital of Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Grabenbauer
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012007:Rectum / Q000503:physiopathology; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D016685:Mitomycin; D005472:Fluorouracil