Prognostic factors and biomarkers of penile carcinoma

Penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare malignancy with highest incidence in underdeveloped and developing countries. Oncogenic human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA, mainly types 16 and 18, are found in ∼ 100% of patients with uterine cervix carcinoma. The incidence of this virus in SCC and its variations range from 30.5 to 80%. Despite controversies, contrary to the cervical carcinoma, in the carcinogenesis and disease progression of SCC, HPV-dependent and HPV-independent tumors need to be considered. Lymphadenectomies continue to be the gold standard treatment of lymph node metastases. Undesirable accuracy on staging system methods and high rates of lymphadenectomy complications are the principal objections to these surgical procedures; therefore, the main issue in patients with SCC is to know who should or should not undergo lymphadenectomy. The search for primary tumor anatomopathological and biomarker risk factors for lymph node metastases, such as has occurred in other tumors, may be an important tool to select lymphadenectomies candidates better. Histological subtypes, tumor grade, growth pattern, tumor thickness, lymphatic embolization by neoplasic cells and depth of infiltration have been reported as important prognostic factors for lymph node metastases. In our series, lymphatic vascular permeation, palpable lymph node after primary tumor control (cN stage), pattern of invasion, p53 and PCNA immunoreactivity are independent lymph node metastases risk factors in the multivariate model. It is strongly recommended that patients be concentrated in specialized centers or cancer hospitals and multi-centric prospective studies carried out on tumor markers in this rare disease, in order to stage better lymph node disease and avoid unnecessary surgeries with high morbidity rates.