RESULTS OF COMBINED RADIOCHEMOTHERAPY OF ANAL CARCINOMA

The combined radiochemotherapy with mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil is an effective and well tolerable treatment modality. Its superiority in comparison with radiotherapy alone could not be reliably demonstrated . The goal of this paper was to analyse the results of routinely used combined modality in patients with anal carcinoma. From 1989 to 1994 s imultaneous radiochemotherapy was performed in 20 patients with carcin oma of the anal canal. The 3- and 5-year survival rate was 79 %, the 3 - and 5-year local tumor control rate was 88 % and 77 %, respectively. In 2 patients a recurrence-related colostomy was performed. The acute side effects were tolerable, 2 patients (10 %) suffer from moderate l ate effects (partial incontinence, proctitis). Our results, being of h igh validity due to accurate follow-up are similar to the data reporte d in international trials and support the hypothesis of superiority of combined radiochemotherapy compared to radiotherapy alone. In our opi nion, the combined modality treatment should also be applied preferent ially in practice, beyond the clinical trials.