LOW ACUTE TOXICITY OF RADIOTHERAPY AND RADIOCHEMOTHERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH CANCER OF THE ANAL-CANAL AND HIV-INFECTION

Although not an AIDS-defining malignancy, anal cancer is ail evolving problem in HIV-infected patients. Treatment-tolerance to radiotherapy as well as to chemotherapy is supposed to be reduced in patients with HIV-infection. From January 1995 to January 1997, four patients with e pidermoid cancer of the anal canal and a long history of HIV-infection but without symptoms of AIDS or repeated severe infections were treat ed with radiotherapy (n = 1) or radiochemotherapy (n = 3). External be am radiotherapy with 45 Gy to the tumor and pelvic as well as inguinal lymphatic drainage was administered. In tumors larger than T2 NO lesi ons an additional boost of 9 Gy was given. Chemotherapy consisted of 5 -fluorouracil 1000 mg/m(2)/24 h, d 1-4 two cycles and Mitomycin C eith er 1 x 15 mg/m(2) d 1 in the first, or 2 x 10 mg/m(2), d 1; in the fir st and fifth week of radiotherapy. Acute reactions were mild to modera te in all patients and all but one treatment could be given as schedul ed (1 patient with a delay of 4 days). No excessive acute reactions we re seen. Because of the short follow-up, late reactions and local cont rol are not yet evaluable.