Anal neoplasms. Treatment with radiotherapy and exclusive chemotherapy

: We report preliminary results on treatment of anal carcinoma by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Nine patients (mean age 64, 6 females) were treated with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C intravenously, associated to radiotherapy (3000 rads in 10 days). The lesion was located in the anal canal in 4 patients and at the anal margin in 5. Good response was observed in every patient with no evidence of recurrence during a 2 to 30 month follow up period (median 16). A greater number of patients and a longer follow up period is required to establish this as a valid alternative to abdomino-perineal surgery for the treatment of anal carcinoma.