ANAL-CANAL CARCINOMA - TREATMENT BY RADIOTHERAPY AND CHEMOTHERAPY

Chemotherapy (CT) combined with radiation therapy (RT) is the treatment generally proposed in patients with anal canal carcinoma. Since 1984 the authors have combined 5 FU-MMC with radiation for these patients. In this study the authors report their experience with this treatment compared with radiation therapy. From 1973 to 1989, 53 patients have been treated: 20 patients (group A): 1 T1, 5T2, 10 T3, 4 T4 received RT + CT and curietherapy - 33 patients (group B): 7 T1, 19 T2, 7 T3 received RT plus curietherapy only. After the first step of the treatment CR (32 %) was obtained in group A and in 27 % in group B. At 3 years the survival without loco-regional recurrence was 65% in the 2 groups. The authors conclude that CT combined with RT appears to be efficient in the treatment of voluminous tumors but its place must be determined in a controlled study.