RADIATION-THERAPY AND CHEMOTHERAPY IN THE CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF CARCINOMA OF THE ANAL-CANAL - SURVIVAL AND LATE MORBIDITY IN A SERIES OF 25 PATIENTS

Combined radiation therapy and chemotherapy have been reported to prod uce a high incidence of complete regression of epithelial cancel of th e anal canal. Our group has treated 25 patients since June 1986. Treat ment included chemotherapy (first period: Mitomycin C + 5-Fluorouracil ; second period: Carboplatin + 5-Fluorouracil) and simultaneous whole- pelvis irradiation (50.40 Gy). Our results confirm that radiochemother apy can achieve good focal control: all patients were in complete clin ical remission thr ee months after the completion of combined therapy. Seven, patients developed recurrences; the actuarial survival rate wa s 78.5% and the disease free survival rate 67%. Acute toxicity was tol erable, but a relatively high number of patients exhibited chronic tre atment-related symptoms. In order to reduce late side effects, other s tudies are necessary to explore if in patients with small tumors less extensive locoregional treatment can be effective without reducing the survival rate.