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Docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-FU regimen shows promise in anal carcinoma
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Combination treatment with docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil was associated with encouraging outcomes in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal, according to study results.
More than 20% of patients experience recurrence after concurrent chemoradiation with mitomycin-C and 5-FU. These patients typically then undergo cisplatin-based therapy, although complete response rates are low and prognosis remains poor, according to background information provided by researchers.
The current study included eight patients with advanced and recurrent anal cancer who were previously treated with pelvic chemoradiation.
Each patient received 75 mg/m2 docetaxel and 75 mg/m2 cisplatin-based chemotherapy on the first day of 3-week cycles. 5-FU was administered in 750 mg/m2 daily for 5 days in each cycle.
Median follow-up was 41 months.
Researchers calculated 12-month OS rate of 62.5% (95% CI, 22.9-86.1).
Four patients achieved complete remission. All four remained relapse free at the time of analysis, with PFS ranging from 19 months to 88 months. Three of these patients underwent surgery for metastatic sites, and pathologic complete response was confirmed in all cases.
Researchers observed no grade IV toxicity.
The results support the evaluation of docetaxel, cisplatin and 5FU in prospective cohorts, the researchers wrote.
The investigators also evaluated all patients for HPV expression.
They determined HPV was present in the tumors of all patients who achieved complete remission. Immunohistochemical evaluation showed all patients had a p16-positive/p53-negative phenotype.
Researchers only detected HPV in half of the nonresponders, and none expressed p16.
Disclosure: See the study for a full list of relevant financial disclosures.
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