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. 2001 Jul 1;50(3):675-80.
doi: 10.1016/s0360-3016(01)01510-3.

The impact of gap duration on local control in anal canal carcinoma treated by split-course radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy

D C Weber  1 , J M Kurtz, A S Allal
Affiliations

The impact of gap duration on local control in anal canal carcinoma treated by split-course radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy

D C Weber et al. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. .

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the potential benefit of reducing the intersequence gap in patients with anal cancer treated with split-course chemoradiotherapy.

Methods: The study group consisted of 90 patients with anal squamous carcinoma treated between 1981 and 1998, using concomitant chemotherapy (CT) and radiation (RT). Median age was 65 years (range 41-87). RT was delivered in a split course, with a median gap of 37.5 days (range 4-97) between sequences. First (pelvic) sequence delivered a median dose of 40 Gy (range 36-50.4), using AP/PA megavoltage photon beams. Boost treatment (median dose 20 Gy, range 13-26) consisted of either Iridium-192 implantation (49 patients) or external beam RT (41 patients). CT consisted of 1-2 cycles of a 5-day continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil and bolus mitomycin C, usually administered during the first week of each RT course. Median follow-up was 76.2 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with locoregional control (LRC).

Results: Five-year actuarial LRC was 72.5%. Factors associated with poorer LRC (univariate) were: age < or = 65, male gender, and gap > 37.5 days. Number of CT cycles (1 vs. 2 or more), boost technique (brachytherapy vs. external), and T-stage were not significantly associated with LRC. In multivariate analysis, only age (p = 0.01), and gap (p = 0.02) retained their significance. In patients older than 65 years, LRC was 92.3% and 75% for shorter and longer gaps, respectively. In younger patients, the corresponding values for LRC were 73.7% and 50%.

Conclusion: In anal cancers, split-course RT with > 50 Gy dose delivery is difficult to avoid because of acute toxicity. The present analysis suggests that shortening the gap contributes to optimizing LRC. Gaps longer than 5 weeks correlated with poorer LRC, with especially unsatisfactory results observed in younger patients.

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