Salvage surgery in patients with recurrent or residual squamous cell carcinoma of the anus

Risk factors and outcome following salvage surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus

BACKGROUND

Chemoradiotherapy is the primary treatment for anal cancer. 15-33% of patients will have persistent or recurrent disease after treatment requiring salvage surgery. Relapse after surgery, postoperative complications, and mortality as well as possible risk factors are not fully understood due to the rareness of the disease. The aim of the study was to report outcomes after salvage surgery as well as evaluate risk factors for postoperative complications, cancer relapse and survival.

METHODS

Data were retrospectively collected from electronical patients charts and pathology reports from all patients undergoing salvage surgery from July 1st, 2011 to July 1st, 2021 at the Department of Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.

RESULTS

A total of 98 patients were included in the study. The 5-year overall survival was 61.8%. Relapse after surgery occurred in 36.7% of patients and was significantly associated with R1-resection (HR = 4.4) and preoperative nodal metastases (HR = 4.5). Negative prognostic factors for survival were found to be R1-resection (HR = 3.2), preoperative nodal metastases (HR = 2.9), and male gender (HR = 0.5). There was no association found between complications and survival (HR 1.2). None of the possible risk factors were associated with major postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

An acceptable overall survival after surgery was found. Survival and relapse-free survival was negatively associated with R1 resections and positive preoperative lymph nodes. Complications did not influence long-term survival.

Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Lower Gastrointestinal Cancers: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Limited therapy options exist for patients with treatment-refractory metastatic colorectal or anal cancers, prompting investigation into alternative therapies. Immunotherapy in the form of immune checkpoint blockade is one such emerging treatment that has demonstrated promising results in other tumour streams.x This review aims to assess the current use of immune checkpoint blockade in patients with lower gastrointestinal tumours.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Embase, Medline and Cochrane databases were searched for included studies. Clinical trials published in English and utilising immune checkpoint blockade for primary tumours situated in the lower gastrointestinal tract were included. Databases were searched for studies reporting on at least one of overall survival, progression-free survival or response to therapy.

RESULTS

In total, 972 abstracts were screened, with 10 studies included in the final review. Eight trials (833 patients) assessed immune checkpoint blockade in the setting of colorectal cancers. These included pembrolizumab, nivolumab, durvalumab, atezolizumab, tremelimumab and ipilimumab. A total of 20 patients across all studies achieved a complete response, and 111 patients achieved a partial response to treatment. Two trials (62 patients) assessed immune checkpoint blockade in anal cancer, utilising nivolumab and pembrolizumab. Two patients across both studies achieved a complete response, and 11 patients achieved a partial response.

CONCLUSIONS

A number of patients with advanced lower gastrointestinal tumours achieved a complete response to treatment for what would otherwise be considered palliative disease. Presented data have highlighted that particular patients may benefit from first-line or combination immunotherapy, and thus, further investigation is warranted to individualise treatment.

Long-term results achieved by guideline-based stage-dependent management of anal cancer in a non-HIV population

PURPOSE

Therapy of anal cancer follows national and international guidelines that are mainly derived from randomized trials. This study aimed to analyze long-term results of stage-dependent treatment of anal cancer in a non-selected patient cohort.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

All consecutive patients treated for anal cancer between 2000 and 2015 were retrieved from a prospective database. Risk-dependent screening for human immunodeficiency virus showed no infection. Main outcome measure was overall survival with respect to tumor site and treatment. Secondary endpoints were cause-specific survival, stoma free survival, and the rate of salvage operations.

RESULTS

In total, 106 patients were treated for anal cancer. Of those, 69 (65.1%) suffered from anal canal cancer and 37 (34.9%) from anal margin cancer. Three patients with synchronous distant metastases were excluded from analysis. The majority of patients (n = 79, 76.7%) were treated by chemoradiotherapy in curative intention. Twenty-two patients underwent local surgery. Five-year overall survival was 73.1% and cause-specific survival at 5 years was 87.4%. Overall, 14 patients (13.6%) needed salvage surgery. Their 5-year cause-specific survival was 57.7%. A permanent ostomy was avoided in 77.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of anal cancer results in low rates of salvage surgery and permanent ostomies, when therapy was determined by a multidisciplinary team following national and international guidelines.

Complications After Extended Radical Resections for Locally Advanced and Recurrent Pelvic Malignancies: A 25-Year Experience

BACKGROUND

The oncological role of pelvic exenteration for locally advanced and recurrent pelvic malignancies arising from the anorectum, gynaecological, or urological systems is now well-established. Despite this, the surgical community has been slow to accept pelvic exenteration, undoubtedly due to concerns about high morbidity and mortality rates. This study assessed the general major complications and predictors of morbidity following extended radical resections for locally advanced and recurrent pelvic malignancies.

METHODS

Data were collected from prospective databases at two high-volume institutions specialising in beyond TME surgery for locally advanced and recurrent pelvic malignancies between 1990 and 2015. The primary outcome measures were major complications (Clavien-Dindo 3 or above) and predictors for morbidity.

RESULTS

A total of 646 consecutive patients required extended surgery for local advanced pelvic malignancies. The median age was 63 (range 19-89) years, and the majority were female (371; 57.4%). One or more major complications were observed in 106 patients (16.4%). The most common major complications were intra-abdominal collection (43.7%; n = 59/135) and wound infection (14.1%; n = 19/135). The overall inpatient mortality rate was 0.46% (n = 3/646). Independent predictors for major morbidity following surgery for locally advanced or recurrent pelvic malignancies were squamous cell carcinoma of anus, sacrectomy, and blood transfusion requirement.

CONCLUSIONS

This series adds increasing evidence that good outcomes can be achieved for extended radical resections in locally advanced and recurrent pelvic malignancies. A coordinated approach in specialist centres for beyond TME surgery demonstrates that this is a safe and feasible procedure, offering low major complication rates.

A systematic review of outcomes after salvage abdominoperineal resection for persistent or recurrent anal squamous cell cancer

AIM

Up to 30% of patients with squamous cell cancer of the anus (SCCA) will require a salvage abdominoperineal resection (APR) for either persistent or recurrent disease. The objective of this study was to assess cancer-related outcomes in patients with (i) persistent or (ii) recurrent SCCA.

METHOD

Embase and MEDLINE were searched. Publications were included if they assessed overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and locoregional recurrence or metastatic disease after salvage APR for persistent or recurrent SCCA.

RESULTS

A total of 28 retrospective case series (study size ranged from nine to 111) met our inclusion criteria. The median time to salvage APR was 2.6 months [interquartile range (IQR) 2.6-5.0 months, six studies] for persistent disease and 27.6 months (IQR 15.0-32.7 months, five studies) for recurrent disease. The median 5-year OS from the time of salvage APR was 45.0% (IQR 32.0%-52.3%, 10 studies) for persistent disease and 51.0% (IQR 36.0%-60.9%, 11 studies) for recurrent disease. The median 5-year DFS following salvage APR was 44.0% (IQR 29.5%-53.0%, 10 studies) for all patients. Following salvage APR, the median locoregional recurrence rate was 23.5% (IQR 15.8%- 46.9%, 19 studies) and 9.0% (IQR 6.4%-13.3%, 16 studies) of patients developed metastatic disease after salvage APR.

CONCLUSION

Our review characterizes the best evidence for outcomes following salvage APR for patients with persistent or recurrent SCCA. The evidence is limited by the quality of included studies, as many were single centre case series.

Early versus late salvage abdominoperineal resection for anal squamous cell carcinoma: Is there a difference in survival?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The first-line treatment for anal squamous cell carcinoma is Nigro protocol chemoradiotherapy. Some patients will fail curative intent chemoradiotherapy and have persistent disease while others may have an initial response followed by disease recurrence. The goal of this study is to investigate survival in anal squamous cell carcinoma patients who fail first-line treatment.

METHODS

The National Cancer Database (2004-2013) was used to identify patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma. The primary outcome was overall survival.

RESULTS

There were 256 patients in the early salvage group who underwent abdominoperineal resection (APR) within 6 months of completing chemoradiotherapy and 181 patients in the late salvage group who had APR 6 months or more after completion of chemoradiotherapy. Both groups of patients had similar tumor size (45  vs 50 mm; P = 0.07) and rate of positive margins (21.5% vs 15.6%;P = 0.13). There was no significant difference in overall survival between early and late salvage APR (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50-1.32; P = 0.40).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall survival of anal squamous cell carcinoma patients undergoing early vs late salvage APR after failure of chemoradiotherapy is similar. As a result, patients with persistent disease should be offered surgery just as readily as those with recurrent disease.

Outcome of surgery for recurrent anal cancer: results from a tertiary referral centre

AIM

Chemoradiotherapy remains the first line of treatment for anal cancer with surgery reserved for cancer recurrence or persistence. The low incidence of anal cancer means that the numbers undergoing surgery is small with centralization for excision to regional cancer centres. We present our experience of abdominal perineal excision, with reconstruction of the perineal defect (APERR), within a tertiary centre.

METHOD

Over a 15-year period, data were collected retrospectively from notes of patients who underwent an APERR. The aim was to look at disease-free and overall survival and complications associated with flap reconstruction.

RESULTS

In the study period, 29 patients [median age = 62 (range: 42-81; interquartile range: 54-68) years] underwent APERR. Median follow-up was 77 (4-200) months. Thirteen patients died during follow-up; eight from their disease, with a median survival time of 16 (4-63) months. Five-year survival was 67%. Nine (31%) patients had recurrence during the follow up period; this was local (n = 2), regional (n = 4), distant (n = 2) or a combination (n = 1). Sixteen (55%) patients developed 24 complications, including nine (31%) flap complications and 10 (34%) parastomal hernias. Flap complications were flap failure (n = 1) requiring direct closure, flap dehiscence (n = 2), necrosis of flap tip (n = 1), wound infection (n = 4) and a bulky flap (n = 1) requiring liposuction.

CONCLUSION

APERR of anal cancer is a feasible technique with excellent oncological treatment and acceptable long-term complications, although a higher than expected rate of parastomal hernia was noted.

Salvage Abdominoperineal Resection for Squamous Cell Anal Cancer: A 30-Year Single-Institution Experience

Background

Failure of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) results in persistent or recurrent anal SCC. Treatment with salvage abdominoperineal resection (APR) can potentially achieve cure. The aims of this study are to analyze oncological and surgical outcomes of our 30-year experience with salvage APR for anal SCC after failed CRT and identify prognostic factors for overall survival (OS).

Methods

All consecutive patients who underwent salvage APR between 1990 and 2016 for histologically confirmed persistent or recurrent anal SCC after failed CRT were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Forty-seven patients underwent salvage APR for either persistent (n = 24) or recurrent SCC (n = 23). Median OS was 47 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.0–84.0 months] and 5-year survival was 41.6%, which did not differ significantly between persistent or recurrent disease (p = 0.551). Increased pathological tumor size (p < 0.001) and lymph node involvement (p = 0.014) were associated with impaired hazard for OS on multivariable analysis, and irradical resection only (p = 0.001) on univariable analysis. Twenty-one patients developed local recurrence after salvage APR, of whom 8 underwent repeat salvage surgery and 13 received palliative treatment. Median OS was 9 months (95% CI 7.2–10.8 months) after repeat salvage surgery and 4 months (95% CI 2.8–5.1 months) following palliative treatment (p = 0.055).

Conclusions

Salvage APR for anal SCC after failed CRT resulted in adequate survival, with 5-year survival of 41.6%. Negative prognostic factors for survival were increased tumor size, lymph node involvement, and irradical resection. Patients with recurrent anal SCC after salvage APR had poor prognosis, irrespective of performance of repeat salvage surgery, which never resulted in cure.

Salvage Surgery for Locoregional Failure in Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Anal squamous cell carcinoma is a rare cancer with a high cure rate, making research into the treatment of locoregional failure difficult.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine factors related to local treatment failure and determine the outcomes of patients undergoing local salvage resection.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

This study was conducted at a quaternary referral center.

PATIENTS

Patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy between January 1983 and December 2015 were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The influence of patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related factors on the primary outcome measures of locoregional failure, overall survival, and disease-free survival were investigated.

RESULTS

Of 467 patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma, 63 experienced locoregional failure with 41 undergoing salvage resection. Twenty-seven patients (38%) had persistent disease and 36 (62%) developed locoregional recurrence. Multivariate analysis identified tumor stage (HR, 3.16; p < 0.002) as an independent predictor of locoregional failure. Thirty abdominoperineal resections and 11 pelvic exenterations were undertaken with no surgical mortality. At a median follow-up of 20 months (range, 4-150 months), 5-year overall and disease-free survival for the salvage cohort was 51% and 47%. Margin positivity was an independent predictor for relapse post-salvage surgery on multivariate analysis (HR, 20.1; p = 0.027). Nineteen patients (48%) developed further relapse, which included all 10 patients with a positive resection margin, 3 of whom underwent re-resection. Of the 19 patients with relapse, 3 remain alive and 2 have persistent disease.

LIMITATIONS

Limitations include the retrospective nature of the database, the prolonged time period of the study, and episodes of incomplete data.

CONCLUSIONS

Advanced T stage is an independent predictor of local failure in anal squamous cell carcinoma. Most patients can be salvaged, with a positive resection margin being a strong predictor of further relapse and poor outcome. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A515.