How I treat anal squamous cell carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is increasing and linked to HIV and HPV infections.
• Multidisciplinary assessment and follow-up are crucial for effective SCCA patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize current treatment strategies for anal squamous cell carcinoma.
• To highlight the importance of accurate staging and risk evaluation for treatment planning.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and treatment guidelines for SCCA.
• Discussion of treatment modalities based on disease stage and recurrence patterns.

Main Results:

• Early-stage SCCA is treated with chemoradiotherapy; salvage surgery is for local recurrence.
• Advanced or metastatic SCCA requires palliative chemotherapy, with immune checkpoint inhibitors as a promising novel option.

Conclusions:

• Optimal SCCA treatment necessitates accurate staging, risk assessment, and consideration of emerging therapies like immunotherapy.
• Patients with SCCA benefit from management in high-volume centers and participation in clinical trials due to the disease's complexity and limited research data.