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Anal Carcinoma

Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Background:

  • Risk factor: HPV (high risk) > HIV, smoking

  • Mostly SCC

Work-up:

  • DRE

  • Anoscopy

  • LN biopsy/FNA

  • HIV test

  • Chest/abd CT scan

Staging:

  • T1: ≤ 2cm

  • T2: 2-5 cm

  • T3: > 5cm

  • T4: Any tumor size invaded to adjacent organs


Perianal SCC

  • Non-metastatic disease (M0):

    • Local excision/surgery:

      • Indications:

        • T1 N0 well/moderately differentiated

        • T2 N0 with no sphincter involvement

    • ChemoRT:

      • Indications:

        • T1 N0 poorly differentiated

        • T2-4 N0

        • Any T N+

      • ChemoRT can cure without requiring an abdominoperineal resection (APR)

        • 1st line:

          • 5-FU + Mitomycin + RT

          • Capecitabine + Mitomycin + RT

        • Category 2B:

          • 5-FU + Cisplatin + RT

      • The 5-year survival rate ~90%

      • If a patient did not achieve CR 6 months after chemoRTdefinitive surgery (APR)

  • Metastatic disease:

    • First line: 

      • Carbo/taxol + Retifanlimab (preferred)

      • Carbo/taxol

      • mFOLFOX6

      • FOLFCIS

        • Leucovorin (Folinic acid), 5-FU, Cisplatin

    • Category 2B:

      • 5FU/Cisplatin

      • DCF

        • Docetaxel, Cisplatin, 5-FU

    • Subsequent line: 

      • PD-1 inhibitors (if no prior immunotherapy received)



Anal SCC

  • Non-metastatic disease (M0):

    • ChemoRT (regimens mentioned above)

    • If good response to chemoRT but residual mass:

      • Reassess in a few months (up to 6 months after chemoRT)

    • If progression after chemoRT → typically receive APR

  • Metastatic disease:

    • (Regimens mentioned above)

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