Anal squamous cell carcinoma is still considered a rare disease, accounting for only approximately 4% of cancers of the lower alimentary tract. However, its incidence is surging relating to the prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, especially in advanced stages at diagnosis. The quality of life is often compromised either in case of local progression or secondary to chemo-radiotherapy sequelae, and the prognosis remains dismal in cases of non-resectable locoregional recurrence, or distant metastases. There have been no major revamps to therapeutic management of these diseases in recent years, and as such more attention is needed for a deeper molecular characterization of the disease.
Despite significant advances achieved through the consolidation of chemoradiotherapy with mitomycin and fluoropyrimidine as standard in localized disease, and a taxane-based polychemotherapy as a validated treatment in advanced disease, many questions remain unsolved in this orphanage disease, such as;
i) the optimal dose, and possibility of de-escalation for smaller lesions,
ii) the development of more aggressive strategies for locally advanced tumors
iii) the role of immunotherapies, their best chemotherapy backbone, and the timing of treatment.
Moreover, multidisciplinary management seems crucial due to a significant improvement of prognosis in advanced anal squamous cell carcinoma in first-line. More recent data highlights the feasibility and the efficacy of a multidisciplinary ablative treatment even in second-line chemorefractory patients. Finally, a highly sensitive and specific HPV circulating tumor DNA (HPV ctDNA) confers a valuable tool, not only for prognosis but also as an early biomarker for guidance of the application of different strategies.
This Research Topic aims to discuss the emerging findings on molecular mechanisms as well as new understanding and researches in anal squamous cell carcinoma. Accepted article types include: Case Report, Clinical Trial, Correction, Editorial, Erratum, General Commentary, Hypothesis and Theory, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Review, Systematic Review and Technology and Code. Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Molecular mechanism of anal squamous cell carcinoma development and progression
- Dose finding data for localized disease
- Management strategies in locally advanced disease and novel treatment options in advanced disease
- Biomarkers to diagnose, track, and aid in clinical decision making
- Rare case situations and multidisciplinary management options
Important Note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.
Anal squamous cell carcinoma is still considered a rare disease, accounting for only approximately 4% of cancers of the lower alimentary tract. However, its incidence is surging relating to the prevalence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, especially in advanced stages at diagnosis. The quality of life is often compromised either in case of local progression or secondary to chemo-radiotherapy sequelae, and the prognosis remains dismal in cases of non-resectable locoregional recurrence, or distant metastases. There have been no major revamps to therapeutic management of these diseases in recent years, and as such more attention is needed for a deeper molecular characterization of the disease.
Despite significant advances achieved through the consolidation of chemoradiotherapy with mitomycin and fluoropyrimidine as standard in localized disease, and a taxane-based polychemotherapy as a validated treatment in advanced disease, many questions remain unsolved in this orphanage disease, such as;
i) the optimal dose, and possibility of de-escalation for smaller lesions,
ii) the development of more aggressive strategies for locally advanced tumors
iii) the role of immunotherapies, their best chemotherapy backbone, and the timing of treatment.
Moreover, multidisciplinary management seems crucial due to a significant improvement of prognosis in advanced anal squamous cell carcinoma in first-line. More recent data highlights the feasibility and the efficacy of a multidisciplinary ablative treatment even in second-line chemorefractory patients. Finally, a highly sensitive and specific HPV circulating tumor DNA (HPV ctDNA) confers a valuable tool, not only for prognosis but also as an early biomarker for guidance of the application of different strategies.
This Research Topic aims to discuss the emerging findings on molecular mechanisms as well as new understanding and researches in anal squamous cell carcinoma. Accepted article types include: Case Report, Clinical Trial, Correction, Editorial, Erratum, General Commentary, Hypothesis and Theory, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Review, Systematic Review and Technology and Code. Topics include, but are not limited to:
- Molecular mechanism of anal squamous cell carcinoma development and progression
- Dose finding data for localized disease
- Management strategies in locally advanced disease and novel treatment options in advanced disease
- Biomarkers to diagnose, track, and aid in clinical decision making
- Rare case situations and multidisciplinary management options
Important Note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.
