Chemoradiotherapy in patients with anal cancer: impact of length of unplanned treatment interruption on outcome.

Andreas Meyer, Jürgen Meier Zu Eissen, Johann H Karstens, Michael Bremer

Index: Acta Oncol. 45(6) , 728-35, (2006)

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Abstract

The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate feasibility and effectiveness of definitive chemoradiotherapy without split-course technique in anal cancer patients. From 1993 to 2003, 81 patients were treated; 13 were excluded due to various chemotherapeutic regimes, thus 68 patients were analysed. In case of acute grade 3 toxicities, treatment was halted until improvement or resolution independent of dose. Short interruption was defined as completing treatment without exceeding eight cumulative treatment days beyond scheduled plan, other patients were considered to have had prolonged interruption. Median follow-up was 46 months. Median overall treatment time was 53 days corresponding to an interruption of eight cumulative treatment days. Thirty-five patients (51%) had treatment interruption of