Analysis of outcomes achieved with squamous cell carcinomas of the anus in a single university hospital over the last two decades: Clinical response rate, relapse and survival of 190 patients.

Background and ObjectivesWe reviewed our series of anal squamous cell carcinomas (ASCC) treated over the last two decades. MethodsASCC patients undergoing treatment at the Leicester Royal Infirmary between 1998 and 2016 were selected. Age, gender, pathological tumor characteristics, treatment adopted, the overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) at 5-year follow-up were recorded and calculated. ResultsA total of 190 ASCC were reviewed, of these 64.2% (n=122) received primary radical chemoradiotherapy. Complete response rate was 92.6% (n=113) and four patients with residual disease underwent a salvage APER. Twenty-eight patients experienced recurrent disease (23.0%) either systemic (n=8), local (n=14), or both (n=6); six had a salvage APER. Complete follow-up data are available for 63.1% patients (77/122). Overall, the locoregional failure rate of primary chemoradiotherapy (residual+recurrent disease) was present in 29 patients (29/122; 23.8%). OS was 41.6% CSS was 69.2% and DFS 60.0% at 5 years follow-up. ConclusionsIn our series of ASCC primary chemoradiotherapy had achieved significant initial complete response rates, however, long term-follow ups still present systemic and local recurrences. APR is able to treat 30% of the pelvic recurrences (6/20), the others are either associated with systemic disease or locally inoperable masses.