HIV and anal cancer outcomes: A single institution's experience

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to identify the effect of HIV status on outcome of treatment for squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on all patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal treated at a single academic institution between January 1996 and December 2006. RESULTS: Our search identified 87 (21 HIV-positive) patients who had invasive squamous-cell cancer. The median follow-up was 38 months. Eighty-five percent of HIV-negative patients and 81 percent of HIV-positive were identified as complete responders at 6 weeks after completion of combined modality therapy. Eight percent of HIV-negative and 29 percent of HIV-positive patients developed recurrent disease after 6 months (P = 0.0009). Overall survival for HIV-negative and HIV-positive patients was 71 percent and 73 percent, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-positive patients respond equally to combined modality therapy but have recurrences more frequently than patients who are HIV negative. Overall survival in these two groups is equivalent.