Mednet Logo

How would you treat an excised T1N0M0 anal canal well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with positive microscopic margin?

Do you recommend 5FU/mitomycin chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone? What evidence is there for efficacy and toxicity differences between the two approaches? This group is under-represented in anal cancer randomized trials of radiotherapy vs chemoradiotherapy.
3 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Radiation Oncology · Michigan Healthcare Professionals, PC
Answered on

As you said, the data is very limited for this set of patients.

The data from the 1980s indicates that even T1N0M0 patients fare poorly with surgery alone (Greenall, Hardcastle) with local control and survival rates being far below what is seen with modern series treated with chemoRT, and thus is not...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Radiation Oncology · University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Answered on

I mostly agree, but if I used an elective nodal field it would be only to the low pelvis and to the groins. I think the patient should be treated. RT and chemo would be best. I agree with lowering the radiation dose if there were any question of tolerance.

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Radiation Oncology · The Oregon Clinic-Radiation Oncology West
Answered on

I appreciate all your input. Primarily because of the consequences of failure, my plan is to be aggressive with 45 Gy (1.8) to the primary site, 36 Gy (1.8) to inguinal and lower pelvic nodes, and 32 Gy (1.6) to the upper pelvic nodes with concurrent capecitabine and mitomycin. That being said, I re...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer