title: Squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum: The treatment paradigm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was planned to clarify the optimal treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum, an histological entity extremely rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum were treated with concomitant radiochemotherapy. Radiation therapy was delivered with a 3Dconformational multiple field technique to a dose ranging from 45 to 76.5 Gy, with 6-15 MV energy photons. Chemotherapy consisted of an antimetabolite drug in association with mitomycin C or oxaliplatin. Overall survival and disease free survival were considered in months from the end of the concomitant treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients completed programmed radiochemotherapy treatment but two patients were excluded to the analysis. Six patients (75%) presented negative biopsy 6 months after the end of radiochemotherapy. Seven patients (87.5%) showed a tumour regression after initial treatment. Only 1 patient underwent salvage surgery. Considering a mean follow-up of 41.75 months, 7 patients are still disease free survivors. Only 1 patient developed local recurrence at 6 months and he died 14 months after abdomino-perineal resection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary radio chemotherapy, with a curative intent, could be considered the treatment modality of choice for squamous carcinoma of the rectum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: daniela.musio@libero.it.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Musio
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Felice
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manfrida
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balducci
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meldolesi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gravina
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tombolini
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valentini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
keywords: Radiochemotherapy; Radiotherapy; Rectal cancer; Squamous cell carcinoma