Treatment that follows guidelines closely dramatically improves overall survival of patients with anal canal and margin cancers

Abstract

Background: To assess relevance of ESMO-ESSO-ESTRO treatment guidelines in a retrospective analysis of patients with anal canal or anal margin cancers.

Material and methods: 155 patients were separated into standard treatment group (STG), treated according to or closely the guidelines, and an altered treatment group (ATG).

Results: The median follow-up time was 50.7 months. In the STG, the 5- and 10-year LR-DFS rates were 75.2% and 72.7%; in the ATG, they were 66.8% and 61.2%, respectively. In the STG, the 5- and 10-year OS rates were 81.8% and 68%; in the ATG, they were 63.3% and 49.5%, respectively (p=0.037). In the multivariate analysis, favorable prognostic factors for OS included the standard treatment, age <60, tumor <T3, no HIV infection and a total radiation dose >50.4Gy.

Conclusion: This study identifies the superiority of treatment according to standard guidelines compared to altered treatment. Our results corroborate the guidelines.

Keywords: Adherence to treatment guidelines; Altered treatment; Anal cancer; Chemotherapy; Radiotherapy.