Treatment of squamous cell anal canal carcinoma with pulsed dose rate brachytherapy. Feasibility study of a French cooperative group.

Abstract

To evaluate the feasibility of pulsed dose rate (PDR) brochytherapy in squamous cell anal canal carcinoma (SCACC). In this study a series of 19 patients with SCACC were included between 1995 and 1997. All patients were treated with curative intent with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) (44-50 Gy) and one or two cycles of concomitant fluorouracilcisplatinum. After a gap of 2-3 weeks PDR interstitial brachytherapy was performed with a rigid needles technique. The dose was between 10-25 Gy (PARIS system). All patients are alive. No severe grade 3-4 toxicity was encountered. One local relapse one metastatis were seen in two distinct patients. There was no dysfunction of the after loading machine. The feasibility of PDR brachytherapy appears good in SCACC. It is an attractive alternative to low dose rate brachytherapy.