title: Carboplatin and paclitaxel treatment is effective in advanced anal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of distant metastases of squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCA) is rare but has a poor prognosis. A combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel is commonly used for treating squamous cell cancer in different organs, but its efficacy in advanced SCCA is unclear. The objective of this study is to determine the tolerability and outcome of patients with advanced SCCA on carboplatin plus paclitaxel treatment at the Moffitt Cancer Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis was conducted by looking at records from the Moffitt Cancer Center Tumor Registry from January 2007 to January 2012. Eligible patients had to have a diagnosis of SCCA and have received carboplatin plus paclitaxel every 3 weeks as part of the treatment plan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen patients fulfilled the criteria; 14 were initially diagnosed with early-stage disease and received concurrent chemoradiation, but then relapsed. Median age was 56 years. Upon diagnosis of metastatic disease, 12 patients received carboplatin plus paclitaxel as a first-line treatment. Five patients had received prior systemic chemotherapy regimens and 1 had received prior local regional therapy. The response rate was high at 53% including 3 patients who achieved a complete response. Median overall survival was 12.19 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Carboplatin and paclitaxel treatment shows encouraging activity in advanced SCCA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla., USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Byer
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Fulp
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahipal
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dinwoodie
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shibata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel