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Effective treatment of anal cancer in the elderly with low-dose chemoradiotherapy.
- Source :
- British Journal of Cancer; 4/11/2005, Vol. 92 Issue 7, p1221-1225, 5p
- Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is accepted as the standard initial treatment for squamous cell anal cancer. However, frail elderly patients cannot always tolerate full-dose CRT. This paper reports the results of a modified regimen for this group of patients. In all, 16 patients with biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal or margin and performance status or co-morbidity precluding the use of full-dose CRT were included in this protocol. The median age was 81 (range 77-91). Patients received a dose of 30 Gy to the gross tumour volume plus 3 cm margin in all directions. Concurrent chemotherapy comprised 5-fluorouracil 600 mg m(-2) given over 24 h on days 1-4 of radiotherapy. The treatment was well tolerated. All 16 patients completed treatment as planned. Only one patient experienced any grade 3 toxicity (skin). The local control at a median follow-up of 16 months was 73% (13 out of 16). The overall survival was 69% and disease-specific survival 86%. This is a well-tolerated regimen for elderly/poor performance patients with anal cancer, which can achieve high rates of local control and survival. Longer follow-up will determine whether these encouraging results are maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- RADIOTHERAPY
DRUG therapy
SQUAMOUS cell carcinoma
ANTINEOPLASTIC agents
MEDICAL radiology
MEDICAL electronics
THERAPEUTIC use of antimetabolites
THERAPEUTIC use of antineoplastic agents
RESEARCH
CLINICAL trials
AGE distribution
RESEARCH methodology
HEALTH status indicators
MEDICAL cooperation
EVALUATION research
ANAL tumors
FLUOROURACIL
ANTIMETABOLITES
TREATMENT effectiveness
COMPARATIVE studies
SURVIVAL analysis (Biometry)
COMBINED modality therapy
COMORBIDITY
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00070920
- Volume :
- 92
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- British Journal of Cancer
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 16635835
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6602486