Anal Cancer Health Article

Definition

Anal cancer is an uncommon cancer occurring in the tissues that make up the opening through which stool passes out of the body.

Description

The anus is the opening at the end of the large intestine (rectum) through which solid waste passes out of the body. The anus is a junction between two types of tissues: mucosa, which lines the intestines, and skin. Cancer located at the junction between the rectum and anus is called "anal canal cancer" (also known as transitional-cell, squamous, epidermoid, or basal cell cancer). Cancer located near the external skin is called "anal margin cancer." Anal canal cancer is more common in women, and anal margin cancer is more common in men.

Approximately 3, 400 cases of anal cancer were diagnosed in the United States in 2000. Anal cancer accounts for 1.5% of the cancers of the digestive system. The average age at diagnosis is 62 years. Most anal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas.

Demographics

Women are much more likely than men to develop anal cancer. Anal cancer is more prevalent in Caucasians than other races.

Causes and symptoms

The previously-held belief that anal cancer is caused by the chronic irritation associated with cracks (fissures), hemorrhoids, and abnormal passageways (fistulae), is falling out of favor. It is now believed that most cases of anal cancer are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually-transmitted virus that can cause genital warts. Cancer is caused when the normal mechanisms that control cell growth become disturbed, causing the cells to grow continually without stopping. This may be the result of damage to the DNA in the cell or viral infection.

Symptoms of anal cancer may include:

• bleeding from the anus
• pain around the anus
• the sensation of anal pressure or a mass
• anal itching
• anal discharge
• straining to pass stool (rectal tenesmus)

Diagnosis

To diagnose anal cancer, the physician will first examine the skin of the anus and then will perform a digital rectal examination by inserting a greased, gloved finger into the rectum to feel for lumps. He or she will look for blood on the glove. If a lump is felt, a small sample of the lump will be removed (biopsy) through a small endoscope (flexible viewing instrument) to examine the tissue under a microscope. The biopsy may be performed using local anesthesia in the physician's office.

Although the diagnosis of anal cancer can be made by the examination alone, the cancer may be further evaluated by conducting other procedures. Endoscopic examinations of the anus (anoscopy) or rectum (proctoscopy) may be performed to see the tumor. Endorectal ultrasound, in which a wand-like ultrasound probe is inserted into the anus, enables the physician to determine how deep the tumor lies and whether or not nearby organs have been affected. Other possible diagnostic procedures include x ray and/or computed tomography (CT scan) to detect tumor spread (metastasis). It is common, however, for the cancer to be misdiagnosed at first as a benign lesion, such as a tissue lesion or hemorrhoid; due to this, treatment regimens may be delayed.

Treatment team

The treatment team for anal cancer may include a colorectal surgeon, gastroenterologist, oncologist, radiation oncologist, nurse oncologist, psychiatrist, psychological counselor, and social worker.

Clinical staging, treatments, and prognosis

Clinical staging

The American Joint Committee on Cancer and the Union Internationale Contra le Cancer developed a staging system for anal cancer. Anal cancer is categorized into five stages (0, I, II, III, and IV) which may be further subdivided (A and B) based on the depth or spread of cancerous tissue. This staging system does not apply to anal melanomas or sarcomas. Seventy-five percent of anal cancer patients have stage I or stage II disease. The stages of anal cancer are:

• Stage 0. Cancer has not spread below the limiting membrane of the first layer of anal tissue.
• Stage I. Cancer is 2 cm (approximately 0.75 in) or less in greatest dimension and has not spread anywhere else.
• Stage II. Cancer is between 2 and 5 cm in diameter and has spread beyond the topmost layer of tissue. There is no evidence of regional lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis.
• Stage IIIA. Cancer has spread to adjacent organs (e.g. vagina, bladder) or to the perirectal lymph nodes. Tumor may be of any size.
• Stage IIIB. Cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes in the abdomen or groin or has spread to both adjacent organs and perirectal lymph nodes. Tumor may be of any size.
• Stage IV. Cancer has spread to distant abdominal lymph nodes or to distant organs in the body.

Treatments

The specific treatment depends on the stage of cancer, type of cancer, and the age and overall health of the patient. Anal cancer is most frequently treated with a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation from x rays and gamma rays to kill the cancer cells. Radiation given from a machine that is outside the body is called external radiation therapy. Radiation given internally is called internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy. Sometimes applicators containing radioactive compounds are placed directly into the cancerous lesion (interstitial radiation). The skin in the treated area may become red and dry and may take as long as a year to return to normal. Fatigue, upset stomach, diarrhea, and nausea are also common complaints of patients having radiation therapy. Women may develop vaginal narrowing (stenosis) caused by radiation therapy in the pelvic area, which makes intercourse painful. Radiation may injure the anal sphincter and may cause anal ulcers and anal stenosis.

Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill the cancer cells. The drugs are given by mouth (orally) or intravenously. They enter the bloodstream and can travel to all parts of the body to kill cancer cells. Generally, a combination of drugs is given because it is more effective than a single drug in treating cancer. The side effects of chemotherapy are significant and include stomach upset, vomiting, appetite loss (anorexia), hair loss (alopecia), mouth sores, and fatigue. Women may experience vaginal sores, menstrual cycle changes, and premature menopause. There is also an increased chance of infections.

Surgery may occasionally be employed in the treatment of advanced or recurrent anal cancer. Associated lymph nodes may be surgically removed (lymphadenectomy) if they contain metastatic disease. Most frequently, the cancerous tissue is removed by a procedure called a local resection. In this procedure, the muscle (sphincter muscle) that opens and closes the anus to allow the passage of stool is usually preserved. Alternatively, an abdominoperineal resection is rarely performed surgery in which the anus and lower portion of the rectum are removed. This procedure involves cutting into the abdomen and the perineum, which lies between the anus and vagina in women or between the anus and scrotum in men. An opening is created so that stool can pass out of the body (colostomy) and into a special bag (colostomy bag) affixed to the skin. Because of the success of radiation therapy and chemotherapy, abdominoperineal resection is infrequently performed. It is reserved for certain patients with recurrent cancer and cancer that is not responding to more conservative treatments.

Prognosis

Anal cancer is a curable disease. Tumors that are located in the anal canal, are less than 2 cm in diameter, and are well-differentiated have a favorable prognosis. Anal cancer patients treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy (without surgery) have a five-year survival rate of approximately 80%. In the United States, approximately 500 people die from anal cancer each year.

Anal cancer can spread locally and invade other pelvic organs such as the vagina, prostate gland, and bladder. Anal cancer that spreads through the bloodstream (hematogenous spread) most often strikes the liver and lungs.