ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: During recent two decades, therapeutic strategy for epidermoid carcinoma of anal canal has been changed on basis of the knowledge of the natural course and biologic features. The current study evaluated the treatment outcome and prognostic factors in epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal. METHODS: Fifty-seven cases with epidermoid carcinoma of anal canal were treated curatively in Seoul National University College of Medicine from 1976 to 1997. The sex ratio was 1.5 to 1 with male predominance, with a median age of 57.0 years. The histology consisted of 59.6% (34 cases) in squamous cell carcinoma and 40.4% (23 cases) in cloacogenic carcinoma. According to UICC/AJCC staging system, there were 24.6% in stage I, 28.1% in stage II, 31.6% in stage IIIa and 15.8% in stage IIIb. Operation- based treatment was performed in 96.6% of 29 cases during period I (1976~1988) and in 60.7% of 28 cases during period II (1989~1997). Forty-five cases were treated on the basis of operation: 13 cases, operation only; 20, operation plus radiation; 12, operation plus chemoradiotherapy. And 12 cases were managed by combined radiation and chemotherapy. RESULTS: On median follow-up of 52.0 months (range, 1~160 months), there were 19.3% in local recurrence and 8.8% in systemic recurrence. Recurrence rates were not significantly related to therapeutic strategy (P=0.37). The overall 5-year survival rate was 74.9%. The 5-year survival rates according to therapeutic strategy were 73.3% in the operation-based treatment and 80.0% in the combined radiation and chemotherapy. Survival rates were not significantly related to therapeutic strategy (P=0.48). Three cases, whose sizes were 1 cm, 2 cm and 2.5 cm without lymph node metastasis, were excised locally and are still alive without recurrence. In the multivariate analysis, the metastatic status of lymph nodes had the only independent significant influence on survival. CONCLUSIONS: Combined radiation and chemotherapy in epidermoid carcinoma of anal canal is the preferred treatment for sphincter-preservation, and local excision in early lesion have good outcome without morbidity associated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. In this study, lymph node status was the only prognostic variable.