ANAL CANAL CANCER TREATMENT BY CONCURRENT CHEMORADIOTHERAPY VERSUS RADIOTHERAPY ALONE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study is analysis of results of patient treatment outcome when prescribing chemotherapy and radiotherapy as concomitant setup as compared to radiotherapy alone for patients with anal canal carcinoma and related complications of this mode of treatment.

Materials and Methods: 24 patients of anal canal cancer (squamous cell carcinoma-17 and adenocarcinoma-7)of median age 53.62 years (Range 20-80 year), tumor stage T1/T2-5 patients and stage T3/T4-19 patients with nodal positive 12, (9 inguinal, 3 pelvic) were treated . 11 patients received Pelvic RT-50 Gy/25 Fr/5 wks and concomitant CT with 5-FU and were designated as Group A, and 13 patients were treated with Radiotherapy alone and grouped as Group-B.

Results: Seven patients of concomitant chemotherapy group (63.63%) and 4 of without chemotherapy (30.76%) achieved complete response. 4 patient in concomitant CT group (36.36%) and 9 patients in without CT group (69.23%) achieved partial response. Treatment related complication developed in 13 patients (54.16%) mainly skin reaction and diarrhea of grade II.

Conclusion: The combination of radiation and chemotherapy with 5-FU as concomitant setting has produced better response and survival as well as organ preservation in anal canal carcinoma with acceptable and manageable toxicity.