Cancer of the anal canal: report on the experience of 61 patients

We report our experience on 61 anal canal epidermoid carcinoma bearing patients. The patients are divided into three therapeutic groups: a) 14 patients treated with combined surgery and preoperative radiotherapy (37.8 Gy in 18 fractions and 21 days); b) 28 patients treated with 60Co and electrontherapy (total tumor dose of 60 to 65 Gy); c) 19 patients treated with external cobaltherapy (30 Gy/10 fractions/12 or 15 days) followed 1 to 2 months later by interstitial brachytherapy with Iridium 192 (20 Gy). Local control was observed in 41 out of 61 patients (67.2%). Out of the six patients who underwent salvage abdomino-perineal resection, five were locally cured at 5 years. The overall 5-year survival is 78.6%; the corrected 5-year survival is 88.8%. Analysis of prognosis factors shows a direct relation between local control survival and the loco-regional extension. The 5-year survival was 90.9% in the first therapeutic group, 90.9% in the second group, and 94.7% in the third group. The 5-year survival rates according to the stage and to treatment were as follows: Stage T1 N0 100% in the 1st therapeutic group, 85.7% in the 2nd group, 100% in the 3rd group; for Stage T2 N0 80% in the 1st group, 90.9% in the 2nd group, 90% in the 3rd group; for Stage T3 N0 83.3% in the 1st group, 85.7% in the 2nd group, and 66.6% in the 3rd group. The rates of sphincter preservation were 85.7% in the 2nd group and 94.7% in the 3rd group. These results show the incidence of loco-regional extension on the prognosis and the usefulness of conservative treatments.