Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of anal canal is

Cancers of the anal canal can be divided into those affecting the anal margin (distal to the dentate line) and those affecting the anal canal (proximal to the dentate line) Treatment of Anal Epidermoid or squamous cell Ca Ca of anal margin is treated in similar way to the squamous cell ca of the skin in other locations because adequate surgical margins can usually be achieved without resecting the anal sphincter → wide local excision is adequate. Epidermoid cancer occurring in the anal canal cannot be excised locally without destroying the sphincter so the first line therapy is → chemoradiotherapy (Nigro protocol) More than 80% are cured by chemoradiation. If any residual tumor is left behind after chemo radiation or recurrence occurs →an abdominoperineal excision is performed. Chemotherapy used is combination of 5FU (5-fluorouracil) and mitomycin C