Acute organ toxicity correlates with better clinical outcome after chemoradiotherapy in patients with anal carcinoma

Anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is mainly caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) and epidemiologic data indicate an increasing incidence [1,2]. Standard treatment for non-metastatic disease is primary chemoradiotherapy (CRT) [3]. In general, treatment outcomes are favorable, but disease recurrence occurs in up to 40% of patients with advanced stages (cT3-4 and/or cN+) [3,4]. Pelvic radiotherapy (RT) and CRT are associated with acute organ toxicities such as proctitis, diarrhea, cystitis and dermatitis that may, in addition to hematologic side effects, challenge compliance with CRT and, thus, tumor response and prognosis.

Source: Radiotherapy and Oncology - May 13, 2020 Category: Radiology Authors: Daniel Martin, Franz R ödel, Jens von der Grün, Claus Rödel, Emmanouil Fokas Tags: Original Article Source Type: research