RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The INCH Trial – Induction Chemotherapy in Patients With Bulky Anal Canal Cancer: Evaluation of the Pilot Phase
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 3187
OP 3191
DO 10.21873/anticanres.15105
VO 41
IS 6
A1 FRANCESCA DE FELICE
A1 ALESSIA FALLARINO
A1 FRANCO IAFRATE
A1 VERONICA MAIURI
A1 GIOVANNI GALLONI
A1 GIOVANNI TURRIZIANI COLONNA
A1 RAFFAELLA DE PIETRO
A1 GIUSEPPINA CHIARELLO
A1 CLAUDIA MARCHETTI
A1 NADIA BULZONETTI
A1 DANIELA MUSIO
A1 VINCENZO TOMBOLINI
YR 2021
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/41/6/3187.abstract
AB Aim: To assess feasibility, complications and efficacy of induction chemotherapy followed by standard chemoradiotherapy in patients with bulky anal canal cancer. Patients and Methods: Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal, staged bulky tumor with or without nodal involvement were prospectively enrolled. Before standard chemoradiotherapy, patients received induction chemotherapy with 3 cycles of 75 mg/m2 cisplatin and 750 mg/m2 5-fluorouracil. Patients were followed-up routinely until recurrence or death. Results: Seven patients with bulky anal canal cancer were evaluable for this pilot phase of the study. All patients had human papillomavirus-negative disease. Five completed the scheduled induction chemotherapy and all patients completed the programmed concomitant chemoradiotherapy. None had severe hematological toxicity. The majority of patients (6/7) had tumor downsizing after induction treatment. Six months after chemoradiotherapy, complete response was documented in three patients and salvage surgery was performed in two cases. With a median follow-up of 38 months (range=28-48 months), two patients are disease-free survivors. Conclusion: Induction chemotherapy has the potential to become a standard approach in patients with bulky human papillomavirus-negative anal canal cancer.