Review for 10.1186/s12876-016-0461-0 (2016)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Presenting symptoms predict local staging of anal cancer: a retrospective analysis of 86 
patien ts 
 
 
Version: 0 Date: 21 Dec 2015  
 
 
Reviewer: Cathy  Eng 
 
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
To the authors,  
 
I sincerely appreciate the authors submission re: the rare cancer of anal cancer.  However, there 
were many issues regarding the manuscript that were not clear.  
 
1. What histology was considered?  Squamous cell only? Adenocarcinopma?  Neuroendocrine?  
 
2.  What staging was used for uniformity?  
 
3. I am not sure what the authors are hopin g to achieve with the results of this paper for long 
term goals?  
 
4. The number of specimens that were HPV negative is surprisingly high.  I would recheck that 
data.  That is not what has been previously reported by other institutions.   
 
 
Are the methods app ropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Unable to assess  
 
Are the conclusi ons drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical revi ew is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from 
an organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to al l of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
None 
 
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on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report  
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which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will no t be published.  
 
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