Treatment of cancer of the anal canal. Description of technique and results of radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy. Retrospective study in a non-selected population (1988 - 2016)

Introduction: cancer of the anal canal accounts for approximately 2 to 3% of all digestive neoplasms. Nigro described the conservative treatment of cancer of the anal canal using radiation and chemotherapy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin-C (MMC). Since then, this is the standard therapy. Objective: to describe the technique used in our service and its results in the locoregional follow up of cancer of the anal canal. Method: descriptive, longitudinal, retrospective. The medical history of 72 consecutive patients with no exclusions, who were carriers of cancer of the anal canal were analysed between 1988 and 2016. 67% underwent radiation and chemotherapy and 33% only radiation therapy due to specific medical contraindications. All cases 264 were comprehensively studied and no interruption of treatments were planned. Mandatory interruptions were from 1 to 17 days long and average length was 3 days. Severe reactions were moderate and no late complications were seen. All patients underwent locoregional radiation therapy. Results: local control in N0 was 86% in T1 and T2 versus 42% in T3 and T4 after 6 years p=0,01 meaningful. Conclusions: radiation therapy with the technique used in our service is effective to treat cancer of the anal canal. Local relapse has been the main cause of lesions or relapse. Curability of the disease is directly linked to the clinical/imaging extent of the local lesion.