Squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal: room for improvement with targeted therapy

Carcinoma of the anal canal is a rare disease accounting for 1-5% of gastrointestinal tract malignancies. However, its incidence is increasing worldwide. Chemoradiation is the standard treatment for most patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal and was first described by Nigro et al. Since then, no other effective treatment was developed. Patients with metastatic disease should be considered candidates for clinical trials. New treatment strategies, including molecular target therapies, are warranted in order to improve disease control. Despite the rarity of this disease, it is urgent to improve its treatment by introducing targeted therapy in the arena.