2 doses of mitomycin on patterns of failure of anal cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy

PURPOSE

We report the impact of 1 vs. 2 doses of mitomycin-C (MMC) based chemoradiation (CRT) on patterns of treatment failure and long-term patient outcomes in anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) and the predictors for locoregional failure (LRF) and distant metastasis (DM).

METHODS

In this population-based study, we identified all patients with anal cancer in our province treated radically with radiation and concurrent 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) and 1 vs. 2 doses of MMC between the years 2000-2019. The primary outcomes analyzed were locoregional recurrence (LRR), disease free survival (DFS), ASCC cancer-specific survival (ASCC-CSS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

451 patients were identified. 272 (60%) patients received 1 cycle of MMC (MMC1) and 179 (40%) received 2 cycles (MMC2) as part of the CRT regimen. The median follow-up was 57 (36-252) and 97 (38-239) months for MMC1 and MMC2, respectively. Cox Regression analysis showed stage IIIb and IIIc were associated with worse locoregional recurrence free survival (RFS) (HR=2.851, p=<0.001) and distant RFS (HR=3.391, p=<0.001). Similarly, stage IIIb and IIIc patients had poorer DFS (HR 3.439, p=<0.001), ASCC-SS (HR 3.729, p=<0.001) and OS (2.230, p=<0.001). The use of MMC2 showed a positive impact on improved ASCC-SS (HR 0.569, p=0.029) and distant RFS (HR 0.555, p=0.040) in patients with stage IIIb and IIIc.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis showed that 1 vs. 2 cycles of MMC along with 5FU and radiation is associated with comparable treatment outcomes in general. However, in patients with stage IIIb and IIIc cancer, 2 doses of MMC were associated with improved ASCC-SS and distant DFS.

Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease is associated with a higher prevalence of HPV in the anorectal fistula tract. A comparative study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease is the main risk factor for anal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Whether this occurs due to a higher frequency of human papillomavirus remains unclear. The authors aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HPV and high-risk HPV in patients with perianal Crohn's disease, compared with a control group.

METHODS

The authors conducted a two-center cross-sectional study in which perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease patients were matched for age and sex with patients with anorectal fistula without Crohn's disease. Biopsy specimens were obtained from fistulous tracts during examination under anesthesia for both groups. The samples were sent for HPV detection and genotyping using the INNO-LiPA test.

RESULTS

A total of 108 subjects (54 in each group) were recruited. The perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease group showed a statistically higher frequency of HPV in the fistulous tract than the control group (33.3% vs. 16.7%; p = 0.046). Separate analyses on high-risk types demonstrated that there was a numerically higher frequency of HPV in the perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease group. In multiple logistic regression, patients with perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease were found to have a chance of HPV 3.29 times higher than patients without Crohn's disease (OR = 3.29; 95% CI 1.20‒9.01), regardless of other variables. The types most frequently identified in the perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease group were HPV 11 (12.96%) and HPV 16 (9.26%).

CONCLUSION

Perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease is associated with a higher prevalence of HPV than in patients with anorectal fistula without Crohn's disease.

Leukocyte subtyping predicts for treatment failure and poor survival in anal squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) generally carries a favorable prognosis, as most tumors are highly sensitive to standard of care chemoradiation. However, outcomes are poor for the 20–30% of patients who are refractory to this approach, and many will require additional invasive procedures with no guarantee of disease resolution.

Methods

To identify the patients who are unlikely to respond to the current standard of care chemoradiation protocol, we explored a variety of objective clinical findings as a potential predictor of treatment failure and/or mortality in a single center retrospective study of 42 patients with anal SCC.

Results

Patients with an increase in total peripheral white blood cells (WBC) and/or neutrophils (ANC) had comparatively poor clinical outcomes, with increased rates of death and treatment failure, respectively. Using pre-treatment biopsies from 27 patients, tumors with an inflamed, neutrophil dominant stroma also had poor therapeutic responses, as well as reduced overall and disease-specific survival. Following chemoradiation, we observed uniform reductions in nearly all peripheral blood leukocyte subtypes, and no association between peripheral white blood cells and/or neutrophils and clinical outcomes. Additionally, post-treatment biopsies were available from 13 patients. In post-treatment specimens, patients with an inflamed tumor stroma now demonstrated improved overall and disease-specific survival, particularly those with robust T-cell infiltration.

Conclusions

Combined, these results suggest that routinely performed leukocyte subtyping may have utility in risk stratifying patients for treatment failure in anal SCC. Specifically, pre-treatment patients with a high WBC, ANC, and/or a neutrophil-dense tumor stroma may be less likely to achieve complete response using the standard of care chemoradiation regimen, and may benefit from the addition of a subsequent line of therapy.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09742-7.

Provider Preferences for Anal Cancer Prevention Screening: Results of the International Anal Neoplasia Society Survey

Objective

This study explores provider preferences regarding anal cancer screening indications, initiation age, tools, and referral threshold to high resolution anoscopy (HRA).

Methods

International Anal Neoplasia Society affiliates were invited to complete an online survey. Options for initiation age and tools were delineated by sub-groups. HRA referral thresholds separately queried recommendations by patient immune status.

Results

One hundred forty respondents participated. Although consensus was lacking with regard to specific screening initiation age, more respondents recommended younger initiation ages for men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV (LWH) compared with MSM not LWH (p < 0.01). “No age threshold” ranged 44-55% among sub-groups with lower genital tract disease. Cytology and digital anorectal exam (DARE) were the most frequently selected tools for all sub-groups (ranges 77-90% and 74-86%, respectively). HRA was recommended significantly more frequently for MSM LWH (58%) and patients with vulvar cancer (52%) compared to others (p < 0.01). “Any [test] abnormality” was more often selected as indication for HRA for immunocompromised (56%) and immunocompetent (46%) patients than a specific cytology test result (29%, 36% respectively).

Conclusion

Cytology and DARE were preferred screening tools; screening initiation age and HRA referral threshold showed less consensus. Evidence-based guidelines are needed and may lead to more consistent screening practices.

Human Papillomavirus: From Basic Science to Clinical Management for Preclinical Medical Students

INTRODUCTION

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with 30,000 cancer diagnoses a year, but the HPV vaccination is administered less frequently than other vaccinations. Future providers are a potential target for improving rates, and this flipped classroom module was developed to educate future vaccinators on HPV virology, vaccination, and clinical management.

METHODS

Designed as a clinical correlation for a basic science curriculum on introductory virology and immunology, this weeklong module consisted of a 1-hour lecture and case presentation, assigned articles, and a 90-minute wrap-up session including individual and group quizzes over the assigned material, a group clinical application exercise, and a 20-minute lecture on the case and real-world applications. A pre-/posttest survey was done on general knowledge of HPV, satisfaction with education, and willingness to recommend vaccination for HPV.

RESULTS

This module was designed for first-year students, 491 of whom have performed well in it. Pre-/posttest surveys of 243 students indicated that they significantly improved their knowledge of HPV (from 66.3% premodule to 86.3% postmodule, p &lt;.001) and their satisfaction with medical education on vaccination-related topics, as well as increasing their willingness to recommend vaccination (from 58% premodule to 100% postmodule, p &lt;.001).

DISCUSSION

This module is an effective and satisfactory way to teach first-year medical students about HPV and HPV vaccination and improves reported willingness to recommend vaccination. With limited resources available to effectively teach HPV vaccination to preclinical medical students, this module fills a gap.

3-dimensional) of the "true" (deep) ano-inguinal lymphatic drainage of anal cancer patients

Introduction

The ano-inguinal lymphatic drainage (AILD) is located in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of the proximal medial thigh. Currently, there are no recommendations for an inclusion of the ‘true’ AILD in the clinical target volume (CTV) of definitive chemoradiation for anal cancer patients. To estimate the relevance of inguinal recurrence, we compared the incidental dose to the AILD in anal cancer (AC) patients who were treated either with Volumetric Arc Therapy – Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (VMAT-IMRT) or conventional 3D-radiation technique.

Methods

One VMAT-IMRT-plans and one 3D-plans were calculated on the same target volumes and identical dose prescription in ten patients. We defined the volume of the AILD on the planning CT-scans based on the information of new fluorescence methods. Furthermore, we defined several anatomical subvolumes of interest inside the AILD. We examined and compared absolute and relative dosimetric parameters of the AILD and different anatomical subunits.

Results

The Dmean of the AILD was 40 Gy in the 3D-group and 38 Gy in the IMRT-group. Dmean and Dmedian as well as the V30Gy of the AILD and all subvolumes of the caudal AILD were significant higher using 3D-RT compared to IMRT. Even though the absolute differences were small, in the caudal aspect of the ano-inguinal lymphatic drainage the V30Gy could be more than 10% less with VMAT-IMRT.

Conclusions

3D-RT was slightly superior to IMRT in terms of dose coverage of the AILD. However, the absolute differences were very small. Some relevant caudal parts of the AILD received an insufficient dose for treating potential micrometastases. Particularly in high-risk situations, this may lead to inguinal recurrence and therefore the true deep AILD should be included into the target volume in high risk patients.

Racial Disparity in Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk

Cancer from the gastrointestinal tract and its associated excretory organs will occur in more than 300,000 Americans in 2017, with colorectal cancer responsible for >40% of that burden; there will be more than 150,000 deaths from this group of cancers in the same time period. Disparities among subgroups related to the incidence and mortality of these cancers exist. The epidemiology and risk factors associated with each cancer bear out differences for racial groups in the United States. Esophageal adenocarcinoma is more frequent in non-Hispanic whites, whereas esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with risk factors of tobacco and alcohol is more frequent among blacks. Liver cancer has been most frequent among Asian/Pacific Islanders, chiefly due to hepatitis B vertical transmission, but other racial groups show increasing rates due to hepatitis C and emergence of cirrhosis from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Gastric cancer incidence remains highest among Asian/Pacific Islanders likely due to gene-environment interaction. In addition to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, cancers of the small bowel, pancreas, and colorectum show the highest rates among blacks, where the explanations for the disparity are not as obvious and are likely multifactorial, including socioeconomic and health care access, treatment, and prevention (vaccination and screening) differences, dietary and composition of the gut microbiome, as well as biologic and genetic influences. Cognizance of these disparities in gastrointestinal cancer risk, as well as approaches that apply precision medicine methods to populations with the increased risk, may reduce the observed disparities for digestive cancers.

Radiological assessment of anal cancer: an overview and update

Anal cancer is uncommon neoplasm with an incidence of 2 new cases per 100,000 per year in the USA, accounting approximately 0.4 % of all tumors and 2.5 % of gastrointestinal malignancies. An early detection of the anal cancer is crucial for the patient management, whereas the diagnosis at an early stage allows conservative management with sphincter sparing, on the contrary a delays in diagnosis might lead to an advance cancer stage at presentation with worst survival. According to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Anal Carcinoma guidelines the patients should be subjected to a careful clinical examination, including a digital rectal examination (DRE), an anoscopic examination, and palpation of inguinal nodes. The guidelines recommended for the assessment of T stage, only a clinical examination, while the role of imaging techniques, as Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) is limited to the identification of regional nodes. Instead, the endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) is not recommended. This paper presents an overview and some updates about 3D EAUS and MRI in detection, staging and assessment post therapy of anal cancer patients.

Prevalence of Anal Dysplasia in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Although the prevalence of anal dysplasia is higher in some immunosuppressed populations, the prevalence in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown. We examined the prevalence of abnormal anal cytology among IBD patients, and its relation to the human papilloma virus (HPV).

METHODS

Adults with IBD and age-matched healthy controls (HC) were recruited. IBD patients were categorized as nonimmunosuppressed (IBD-N) or immunosuppressed (IBD-I). Anal Papanicolaou tests were performed for HPV testing and classification by a cytopathologist as follows: negative, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, cancer, or unsatisfactory.

RESULTS

A total of 270 subjects (100 IBD-I, 94 IBD-N, and 76 HC) were recruited. ASC-US were detected in 19 subjects, with a trend toward a higher prevalence among IBD subjects compared with HC (8.8% vs 2.6%; P = .10). The prevalence did not differ with respect to immunosuppression. Crohn's disease (CD) subjects had a higher prevalence of ASC-US compared with others with IBD (P = .02). Among those with CD, female sex and disease duration longer than 10 years were risk factors. There were no cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, or anal cancer in the cohort. HPV was present in 5.3% and 1.5% of subjects with and without ASC-US, respectively (P = .26).

CONCLUSIONS

Although there was a trend toward abnormal anal Papanicolaou tests in IBD subjects compared with HC, there was no difference based on immunosuppression. The presence of HPV did not correlate with abnormal anal cytology. Risk factors associated with this increased trend include female CD subjects and those with a longer duration of CD. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01860963; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01860963.