Determining optimal follow up for patients with anal cancer following chemoradiation.

Abstract

689 Background: U.S. health care is increasingly defined by over expenditure and inefficiency. Optimizing patient follow-up is critical especially in cancers treated with high control rates. The objective of this study was to assess time to disease recurrence or toxicity in a cohort of patients with anal carcinoma in order to optimize patient care. Methods: 140 patients diagnosed with biopsy-proven, non-metastatic anal carcinoma, treated with chemoradiation utilizing IMRT, were identified from an institutional database at our high volume center. After IRB approval, a retrospective study was conducted that evaluated local recurrence (LR), distant metastasis (DM), overall survival (OS), and late ≥ grade three toxicity (LG3T) based on National Cancer Institute Common Terminology for Adverse Events version 4. Patients were followed post-treatment every three months for two years, every six months in years 3-5 then yearly thereafter with imaging per National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommendations. Results: Median age and follow up is 58 years and 27 months, respectively. Patients were staged based on AJCC 8th edition and 24 patients were stage I (17%), 55 stage II (39%) and 61 stage III (44%). The median radiation dose was 54 Gy (range: 40-62.5), and 11% of patients required a radiation break. The two year LC, DMFS, and OS were 93%, 94% and 89% and 5-year LC, DMFS, OS were 92%, 87% and 85% respectively. In total, there were 29 disease or treatment related events: LR occurred in nine patients, DM in 11 patients, and LG3T in nine patients. Overall, 62% of events occurred within year one and 77 % within two years. Stratified by event type, at two years 79% of LR, 64% of DM and 89% LG3T were identified. At the remaining follow-up points after 2 years there was an event incidence rate of 1.4%. Conclusions: The majority of recurrences/toxicities in patients diagnosed with non-metastatic anal carcinoma after chemoradiation occur within the first year, with 77% of any event occurring before year two. The data from individual time points suggest a reduction in follow-up during years 3-5 may provide adequate surveillance. Considering revisions of the current follow-up recommendations could maximize health care resources while also improving patient quality of life.