Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40452840›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in oncology2025

Radio(chemo)therapy with curative intent for anal cancer - effectiveness and toxicity in elderly vs. younger patients.

Mahalia Zoe Anczykowski, Polina Rösel, David Alexander Ziegler, Laura Anna Fischer, Manuel Guhlich, Rami A El Shafie, Stefan Rieken, Leif Hendrik Dröge, Martin Leu

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Mahalia Zoe AnczykowskiDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Polina RöselDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
David Alexander ZieglerDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Laura Anna FischerDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Manuel GuhlichDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Rami A El ShafieDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Stefan RiekenDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Leif Hendrik DrögeDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
Martin LeuDepartment of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Primary radio(chemo)therapy is a therapeutic standard strategy for advanced anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC). For elderly patients evidence concerning long-term oncological outcome is scarce. Methods: 160 patients with advanced ASCC treated primarily by radio(chemo)therapy with curative intent were included. Baseline characteristics such as the Charlson Comorbidity Index as well as treatment-associated and long-term oncologic outcomes of patients with advanced (≥ 70 years) and younger (< 70 years) age were compared. Results: Elderly patients had more comorbidities. They less frequently received concomitant chemotherapy. Acute enteritis ≥ III° and late pelvic bone fracture occurred more frequently in elderly patients. Overall survival and progression-free survival estimates were significantly lower for elderly patients, respectively (OS: HR 2.53, 95% CI 1.54-4.18; p < 0.001 and PFS: HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.29-3.42; Conclusion: Primary radio(chemo)therapy seems to be an effective and relatively safe treatment option also in elderly patients. The lower overall and progression-free survival estimates as well as the negative survival influence of a higher comorbidity index strengthen the necessity to comprehensively weighing up and discuss potential benefits and side effects of primary radio(chemo)therapy.

Indexed as

anal cancercomorbiditieselderly patientsgeriatric oncologyprimary treatmentradiotherapysurvivaltoxicity

Identifiers

PMID40452840
PMCPMC12122431

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.