BACKGROUND: To report the results of conservative treatment in patients with anal canal carcinoma with radiotherapy and chemotherapy at Centro de Tratamento e Pesquisa Hospital do Câncer A. C. Camargo. METHODS: From March 1993 to December 2001, 47 patients with histological diagnosis of anal canal carcinoma were treated by conservative treatment. The median dose of radiotherapy at whole pelvis and at primary tumor was 45Gy and 55 Gy, respectively. The chemotherapy regimen was provided with 5-Fluorouracil and Mitomycin C, with median doses of 1000 mg/m² and 10 mg/m², respectively. Thirty-eight (80.8%) patients didn‘t receive radiotherapy at inguinal region. The median follow-up period was 40 months (8 days-116 months). RESULTS: Complete responses were observed in 40 patients (85.1%). The local control was obtained in 38 patients (80.9%). Distant metastases were observed in 7 (14.9%) patients. The overall survival and colostomy and disease-free survival in 5 years were 61,5% and 50,1%, respectively. The overall survival and disease free survival in 5 years for patients that obtained local control were 77,8% (p < 0.001) and 74,4% (p < 0.001). The overall survival and disease free survival in 5 years for patients with clinical inguinal tumoral lymph nodes were 70.7% and 56.7% respectively (p = 0.0085 and p = 0.0207). Twelve (28%) patients required temporary interruption of treatment. Five patients had mild chronic complications. CONCLUSION: The treatment scheme of these patients was effective for anal sphincter preservation and local control of the disease. The presence of clinical tumoral inguinal lymph nodes and the local control were the main prognostic factors for overall and disease free survival. The relative elevated recurrence at inguinal region suggests the need of elective radiotherapy at this region. The acute toxicity was elevated.
Carcinoma; Anus; Anus neoplasms; Radiotherapy; Chemotherapy
