• Despite an effort to escalate radiation dose to 59.4 Gy with concurrent 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C with a 2-week planned break in RTOG 92-08, compared to continuous radiation to 50.4 Gy, outcomes appeared to be worse. The 2-week break occurred after 36 Gy in 20 fx.
• Disease-free and colostomy-free survivals were higher by approximately 30% in patients treated without a mand atory break; however, the difference was not statistically significant.
• Of note, RTOG 92-08 was closed, then reopened with treatment break removed, resulting in colostomy-free survival rates similar to subsequent protocols using continuous radiation.

Reference(s)

• KonskiA, GarciaMJr, JohnM, et al. Evaluation of planned treatment breaks during radiation therapy for anal cancer: update of RTOG 92-08. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2008;72:114-118.