Management of two cases of recurrent anal carcinoma
1Eastern Regional Medical Center, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Philadelphia, Pa., USA.
Abstract:
Due to the low incidence of anal cancer and generally high cure rates, few second-line treatment options have been evaluated in the setting of formal clinical trials. We briefly report two cases that were both found to have wild-type K-RAS, with no epidermal growth factor receptor amplification or evidence of prior persistent human papilloma virus infection. Both cases were treated with irinotecan and cetuximab with evidence of clinical benefit in the setting of a third recurrence, as well as evidence of response to other strategies employed in their management. These cases provide support for the suggestion that treatment planning in conjunction with molecular profiling may be beneficial in such uncommon clinical settings.
Insights
For recurrent anal cancer, irinotecan and cetuximab showed clinical benefit in two patients with wild-type K-RAS. Molecular profiling may aid treatment planning for rare cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Anal cancer has a low incidence and high cure rates, limiting clinical trials for second-line treatments.
- Few treatment options have been formally evaluated for recurrent or refractory anal cancer.
Observation:
- Two cases of recurrent anal cancer with wild-type K-RAS, no EGFR amplification, and no persistent HPV infection were observed.
- Both patients received irinotecan and cetuximab as a third-line treatment option.
Findings:
- Both patients experienced clinical benefit from irinotecan and cetuximab treatment.
- Evidence of response to other management strategies was also noted in these cases.
Implications:
- These findings suggest that molecular profiling could be valuable for guiding treatment decisions in rare anal cancer cases.
- Personalized treatment strategies incorporating molecular data may improve outcomes for patients with uncommon malignancies.
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