Skip to main content

Management of Local-Regional Anal Cancer Recurrence

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Anal Cancer

Abstract

Anal cancer, a rare gastrointestinal disease, accounts for 1–2.5% of gastrointestinal cancers. Primary treatment is chemoradiation. Ten to 30% of patients experience local relapse, and salvage surgery is a second line of treatment for these patients. Wide local excision, abdominoperineal resection, pelvic exenteration with or without sacrectomy, and inguinal node dissection are all surgical options. In this chapter, we review the management and treatment options for patients who are initially treated with chemoradiation and experience local-regional recurrence of the disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

5-FU:

5-Fluorouracil

APR:

Abdominoperineal resection

HAART:

Highly active antiretroviral therapy

HIV:

Human immunodeficiency virus

HPV:

Human papillomavirus

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

SCC:

Squamous cell carcinoma

References

  1. Siegel RL, Miller KD, Jemal A. Cancer Statistics. CA Cancer J Clin. 2017;67(1):7–30.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Nelson RA, Levine AM, Bernstein L, et al. Changing patterns of anal canal carcinoma in the United States. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31:1569–75.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Nigro ND, Vaitkevicius VK, Considine B Jr. Combined therapy for cancer of the anal canal: a preliminary report. Dis Colon Rectum 1974; 17:354–356.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Tanum G, Tveit K, Karlsen KO, Hauer-Jensen M. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for anal carcinoma. Survival and late morbidity. Cancer. 1991;67:2462–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Cummings BJ. Concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy for anal cancer. Semin Oncol. 1992;19(4 suppl 11):102–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Flam M, John M, Pajak TF, Petrelli N, Myerson R, Doggett S, et al. Role of mitomycin in combination with fluorouracil and radiotherapy, and of salvage chemo radiation in the definitive nonsurgical treatment of epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal: results of a phase III randomized intergroup study. J Clin Oncol. 1996;14:2527–39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Party UACW, UKCCCR Anal Cancer Trial Working Party. UK Co-ordinating Committee on Cancer Research. Epidermoid anal cancer: results from the UKCCCR randomised trial of radiotherapy alone versus radiotherapy, 5-fluorouracil, and mitomycin. Lancet. 1996;348:1049–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bartelink H, Roelofsen F, Eschwege F, Rougier P, Bosset JF, Gonzalez DG, et al. Concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy is superior to radiotherapy alone in the treatment of locally advanced anal cancer: results of a phase III randomized trial of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Radiotherapy and Gastrointestinal Cooperative Groups. J Clin Oncol. 1997;15:2040–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Klas JV, Rothenberger DA, Wong WD, Madoff RD. Malignant tumors of the anal canal: the spectrum of disease, treatment, and outcomes. Cancer. 1999;85:1686–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Guerra GR, Kong JC, Bernardi MP, Ramsay RG, Phillips WA, Warrier SK, et al. Salvage surgery for locoregional failure in anal squamous cell carcinoma. Dis Colon Rectum. 2018;61(2):179–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Das P, Bhatia S, Eng C, Ajani JA, Skibber JM, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, et al. Predictors and patterns of recurrence after definitive chemoradiation for anal cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2007;68(3):794–800.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Sammour T, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, Skibber JM. Locally recurrent disease related to anal canal cancers. Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2017;26:115–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Clark MA, Hartley A, Geh JI. Cancer of the anal canal. Lancet Oncol. 2004;5:149–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Renehan AG, O’Dwyer ST. Management of local disease relapse. Color Dis. 2011;13(Suppl 1):44–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Severino NP, Chadi SA, Rosen L. Survival following salvage abdominoperineal resection for persistent and recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the anus: do these disease categories affect survival? Color Dis. 2016;18(10):959–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Glynne-Jones G, Sebag-Montefiore D, Meadows HM, Cunningham D, Begum R, Adab F, et al. Best time to assess complete clinical response after chemoradiotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (ACT II): a post-hoc analysis of randomized controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2017;18:347–56.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Morita SY, Bach CM, Klimberg VS, Pawlik TM, Posner MC, Tanabe KK. Textbook of complex general surgical oncology. New York: The Mc-Graw Hill Companies; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  18. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/default.aspx. Accessed 15 Sept 2018.

  19. Longacre TA, Kong CS, Welton ML. Diagnostic problems in anal pathology. Adv Anat Pathol. 2008;15(5):263–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Hoffman R, Welton ML, Klencke B, Weinberg V, Krieg R. The significance of pretreatment CD4 count on the outcome and treatment tolerance of HIV-positive patients with anal cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1999;44:127–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Bilimoria KY, Bentrem DJ, Rock CE, Stewart AK, Ko CY, Halverson A. Outcomes and prognostic factors for squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal: analysis of patients from the National Cancer Data Base. Dis Colon Rectum. 2009;52:624–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Tanum G, Tveit K, Karlsen KO, Hauer-Jensen M. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for anal carcinoma. Survival and late morbidity. Cancer. 1991;67:2462–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Boman BM, Moertel CG, O_Connell MJ, Scott M, Weiland LH, Beart RW, et al. Carcinoma of the anal canal. A clinical and pathologic study of 188 cases. Cancer. 1984;54:114–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Frost DB, Richards PC, Montague ED, Giacco GG, Martin RG. Epidermoid cancer of the anorectum. Cancer. 1984;53:1285–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Ajani JA, Carrasco CH, Jackson DE, Wallace S. Combination of cisplatin plus fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy effective against liver metastases from carcinoma of the anal canal. Am J Med. 1989;87:221–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Pawlik TM, Gleisner AL, Bauer TW, Adams RB, Reddy SK, Clary BM, et al. Liver-directed surgery for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to the liver: results of a multi-center analysis. Ann Surg Oncol. 2007;14(10):2807–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Glynne-Jones R, Nilsson PJ, Aschele C, Goh V, Peiffert D, Cervantes A, et al. Anal cancer: ESMO-ESSO-ESTRO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2014;40:1165–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Renehan AG, Saunders MP, Schofield PF, O’Dwyer ST. Patterns of local disease failure and outcome after salvage surgery in patients with anal cancer. Br J Surg. 2005;92(5):605–14.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Mullen JT, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, Chang GJ, Barcenas CH, Crane CH, Skibber JM, et al. Results of surgical salvage after failed chemoradiation therapy for epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal. Ann Surg Oncol. 2007;14:478–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Akbari RP, Paty PB, Guillern JG, Weiser MR, Temple LK, Minsky BD, et al. Oncologic outcomes of salvage surgery for epidermoid carcinoma of the anus initially managed with combined modality therapy. Dis Colon Rectum. 2004;47(7):1136–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Lefevre JH, Corte H, Tiret E, Boccara D, Chaouat M, Touboul E, et al. Abdominoperineal resection for squamous cell anal carcinoma: survival and risk factors for recurrence. An Surg Oncol. 2012;19(13):4186–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Ellenhorn JD, Enker WE, Quan SH. Salvage abdominoperineal resection following combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy for epidermoid carcinoma of the anus. Ann Surg Oncol. 1994;1(2):105–10.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Pocard M, Tiret E, Nugent K, Dehni N, Parc R. Results of salvage abdominoperineal resection for anal cancer after radiotherapy. Dis Colon Rectum. 1998;41(12):1488–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Allal AS, Laurencet FM, Reymond MA, Kurtz JM, Marti MC. Effectiveness of surgical salvage therapy for patients with locally uncontrolled anal carcinoma after sphincter conserving treatment. Cancer. 1999;86(3):405–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Van der Wal BC, Cleffken BI, Gulec B, Kaufman HS, Choti MA. Results of salvage abdominoperineal resection for recurrent anal carcinoma following combined chemoradiation therapy. J Gastrointest Surg. 2001;5(4):383–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Smith AJ, Whelan P, Cummings BJ, Stern HS. Management of persistent or locally recurrent epidermoid cancer of the anal canal with abdominoperineal resection. Acta Oncol. 2001;40(1):34–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Nilsson PJ, Svensson C, Goldman S, Glimelius B. Salvage abdominoperineal resection in anal epidermoid cancer. Br J Surg. 2002;89(11):1425–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Ghouti L, Houvenaeghel G, Moutardier V, Giovannini M, Magnin V, Lelong B, et al. Salvage abdominoperineal resection after failure of conservative treatment in anal epidermoid cancer. Dis Colon Rectum. 2005;48(1):16–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Schiller DE, Cummings BJ, Rai S, Le LW, Last L, Davey P, et al. Outcomes of salvage surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal. Ann Surg Oncol. 2007;14(10):2780–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Mariani P, Ghanneme A, De la Rochefordiere A, Girodet J, Falcou MC, Salmon RJ. Abdominoperineal resection for anal cancer. Dis Colon Rectum. 2008;51(10):1459–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Eeson G, Foo M, Harrow S, McGregor G, Hay J. Outcomes of salvage surgery for epidermoid carcinoma of the anus following failed combined modality treatment. Am J Surg. 2011;201:628–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Correa JHS, Castro LS, Kesley R, Dias JA, Jesus JP, Olivatto LO, et al. Salvage abdominoperineal resection for anal cancer following chemoradiation: a proposed scoring system for predicting postoperative survival. J Surg Oncol. 2013;107:486–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Skibber J, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, Gordon PH. Surgical considerations in anal cancer. Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2004;13(2):321–38.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Solomon MJ, Tan KK, Bromilow RG, Al-mozany N, Lee PJ. Sacrectomy via the abdominal approach during pelvic exenteration. Dis Colon Rectum. 2014;57(2):272–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Sunesen KG, Buntzen S, Tei T, Lindegaard JC, Norgaard M, Laurberg S. Perineal healing and survival after anal cancer salvage surgery: 10-year experience with primary perineal reconstruction using the vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap. Ann Surg Oncol. 2009;16:68–77.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Bakx R, van Lanschot JJ, Zoetmulder FA. Inferiorly based rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps in surgical oncology: indications, technique, and experience in 37 patients. J Surg Oncol. 2004;85:93–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Khoo AK, Skibber JM, Nabawi AS, Gurlek A, Youssef AA, Wang B, et al. Indications for immediate tissue transfer for soft tissue reconstruction in visceral pelvic surgery. Surgery. 2001;130(3):463–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Davidge KM, Raghuram K, Hofer SO, Ferguson PC, Wunder JS, Swallow CJ, et al. Impact of flap reconstruction on perineal wound complications following ablative surgery for advanced and recurrent rectal cancers. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014;21(6):2068–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Chong TW, Balch GC, Kehoe SM, Margulis V, Saint-Cyr M. Reconstruction of large perineal and pelvic wounds using Gracilis muscle flaps. Ann Surg Oncol. 2015;22(11):3738–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Boccola MA, Rozen WM, Ek EW, Teh BM, Croxford M, Grinsell D. Inferior gluteal artery myocutaneous island transposition flap reconstruction of irradiated perineal defects. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2010;63(7):1169–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Pantelides NM, Davies RJ, Fearnhead NS, Malata CM. The gluteal fold flap: a versatile option for perineal reconstruction following anorectal cancer resection. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2013;66(6):812–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Wong S, Garvey P, Skibber J, Yu P. Reconstruction of pelvic exenteration defects with anterolateral thigh-vastus lateralis muscle flaps. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009;124(4):1177–85.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Tashiro J, Yamaguchi S, Ishii T, Suwa H, Kondo H, Suzuki A, et al. Salvage total pelvic exenteration with bilateral v-y advancement flap reconstruction for locally recurrent rectal cancer. Case Rep Gastroenterol. 2013;7(1):175–81.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Flam MS, John MJ, Mowry PA, Lovalvo LJ, Ramalho LD, Wade J. Definitive combined modality therapy of carcinoma of the anus. A report of 30 cases including results of salvage therapy in patients with residual disease. Dis Colon Rectum. 1987;30(7):495–502.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Wade DS, Herrera L, Castillo NB, Petrelli NJ. Metastases to the lymph nodes in epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal studied by a clearing technique. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1989;169:238–42.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Davey P, Saibil EA, Wong R. Bipedal lymphography in the management of carcinoma of the anal canal. Br J Radiol. 1996;69:632–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Shridhar R, Shibata D, Chan E, Thomas CR. Anal Cancer: current standards in care and recent changes in practice. CA Cancer J Clin. 2015;65:139–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Gerard JP, Chapet O, Samiei F, Morignat E, Isaac S, Paulin C, et al. Management of inguinal lymph node metastases in patients with carcinoma of the anal canal: experience in a series of 270 patients treated in Lyon and review of the literature. Cancer. 2001;92:77–84.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Ortholan C, Resbeut M, Hannoun-Levi JM, Teissier E, Gerard JP, Ronchin P, et al. Anal canal cancer: management of inguinal nodes and benefit of prophylactic inguinal irradiation (CORS-03 study). Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012;82:1988–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Harrison KM, Song R, Zhang X. Life expectancy after HIV diagnosis based on national HIV surveillance data from 25 states, United States. J AIDS. 2010;53:124–30.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Egger M, May M, Chene G, Phillips AN, Ledergerber B, Dabis F, et al. Prognosis of HIV-1-infected patients starting highly active antiretroviral therapy: a collaborative analysis of prospective studies. Lancet. 2002;360(9327):119–29.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Silverberg MJ, Chao C, Leyden WA, Xu L, Horberg MA, Klein D, et al. HIV infection, immunodeficiency, viral replication, and the risk of cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2011;20:2551–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Cunnin L, Wali AWM, Turner J, Bower M, Ion L, Allen-Mersh T. Salvage surgery for residual primary and locally recurrent anal squamous cell carcinoma after Chemoradiotherapy in HIV-positive individuals. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014;21:527–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Murthy, S.S., Sigurdson, E.R. (2019). Management of Local-Regional Anal Cancer Recurrence. In: Meyer, J., Kachnic, L. (eds) Anal Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20253-8_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20253-8_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-20252-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-20253-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics