Impact of advancing age on treatment and outcomes in anal cancer

Abstract

Background. Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) may cause significant toxicity, and concerns exist about its tolerability in the elderly. The authors compared tolerability and outcomes across the age groups following CRT for SCCA. Methods. Single-institution retrospective analysis of patients with localized SCCA treated with CRT. CRT was standardized at 50.4-54 Gy, with concurrent infusional 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C. Patients were arbitrarily categorized into three groups: Group 1-age < 50 years; Group 2-age ≥ 50 and < 70 years; and Group 3-age ≥ 70 years. Results. Of 284 patients identified, 278 were evaluable. The number of patients in each age grou..