Systemic Therapy for Penile Cancer

Publication date: Available online 6 September 2017 Source:European Urology Supplements Author(s): Andrea Necchi Penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) is a very rare disease and its prognosis primarily depends on regional lymph node involvement. Although a cure can be obtained in patients with a low metastatic burden using surgery as standalone option, combined modality therapy is required for more advanced cases. In patients with multiple fixed or bulky inguinal lymph nodes, and in those with enlarged pelvic lymph nodes, chemotherapy is moderately effective, with an objective response rate of approximately 50% if a triple regimen of cisplatin, taxane, and ifosfamide or 5-fluorouracil is used. However, long-term survival rates are dismal irrespective of the possibility of administering the most effective treatments, and new drugs are warranted. Therefore, huge unmet medical needs remain in the management of patients with advanced disease. Among the limitations is the optimal timing of chemotherapy delivery in relation to lymphadenectomy. Targeted therapies against the EGFR pathway provided the most promising results in patients after chemotherapy failure. The next research efforts should focus on combining new drugs with standard therapy options, and on identification of biomarkers of clinical benefit and new prognostic factors to help physicians in orienting therapeutic strategies. Chemotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic penile cancer has moderate activity but poo...
Source: European Urology Supplements - Category: Urology & Nephrology Source Type: research