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Penile cancer: current therapy and future directions
G Sonpavde1, L C Pagliaro, C Buonerba
1Department of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham.
Summary
Penile cancer (PC) is rare but aggressive, often spreading to lymph nodes (LNs). Evaluating LNs is crucial for survival, with advanced cases benefiting from multimodal therapy, but treatment advances require international collaboration and research.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Urology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Penile cancer (PC) is a rare malignancy in Western countries, more prevalent in developing regions.
- Limited randomized trials necessitate reliance on retrospective and small prospective studies for treatment strategies.
- PC is characterized by aggressive behavior, including early locoregional lymph node (LN) spread and distant metastases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current therapeutic approaches for penile cancer.
- To identify critical factors influencing patient survival, particularly lymph node involvement.
- To explore potential avenues for future advancements in PC treatment.
Main Methods:
- A literature search was conducted using PubMed.
- Abstracts from major oncology conferences were reviewed.
- Studies focusing on penile cancer therapy were included.
Main Results:
- Lymph node involvement is a critical predictor of overall survival in PC.
- Advanced LN involvement is managed with multimodality therapy (chemotherapy and/or radiation).
- No single superior cisplatin-based regimen has been established.
Conclusions:
- Future progress in PC therapy hinges on international collaboration, understanding tumor biology, and efficient trial designs.
- Potential therapeutic advances may arise from investigating the role of circumcision, Human Papilloma Virus-16, and smoking.
- Emerging strategies include targeting epidermal growth factor receptor and angiogenesis.
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