HIV positivity and anal cancer outcomes: A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND Anal cancer remains common among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. Chemoradiation has had mixed results. We evaluated outcome differences by HIV status. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 14 HIV+ and 72 HIV- anal cancer patients (2000 to 2013). Outcomes included chemoradiation tolerance, recurrence, and survival. RESULTS HIV+ patients were more often male (100% vs 38%, P < .001) but diagnosed at similar stages (P = .49). They were less likely to receive traditional chemotherapy (36% vs 86%, P < .001). Recurrence (P = .55) and survival time (P = .48) were similar across groups. HIV+ patients had similar colostomy-free survival (P = .053). Receipt of 5-fluorouracil/mitomycin C (MMC) chemotherapy predicted recurrence-free and overall survival (Hazard ratios .278, .32). HIV status did not worsen recurrence (P = .71) or survival (P = .57). CONCLUSIONS HIV+ patients received more non-MMC-based chemoradiation but had equivalent colostomy-free, recurrence, and overall survival. Use of 5-fluorouracil/MMC chemotherapy increased after 2008.