Induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in the treatment of anal cancer.

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of the induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in anal cancer. Twenty-three patients diagnosed with anal cancer between March 1991 and February 1999 were treated with induction chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil based regimens followed by external beam radiation. After a median follow-up of 78 months, the overall survival and the disease-free survival at 5 years was 71.3 and 67.5%, respectively. The colostomy-free survival at 5 years was 91%, as the inguinal lymph nodes were the most frequent site of relapse. Serious side effects did not occur and late complications did not develop either. Induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in patients with anal cancer is effective in terms of its response and preserving the anal sphincter without serious acute and late complications.