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 DE FELICE, FRANCESCA A1 FALLARINO, ALESSIA A1 IAFRATE, FRANCO A1 MAIURI, VERONICA A1 GALLONI, GIOVANNI A1 COLONNA, GIOVANNI TURRIZIANI A1 DE PIETRO, RAFFAELLA A1 CHIARELLO, GIUSEPPINA A1 MARCHETTI, CLAUDIA A1 BULZONETTI, NADIA A1 MUSIO, DANIELA A1 TOMBOLINI, VINCENZO 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.