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Back to Oncology Diseases
Penile cancer
Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis is a rare malignancy,
accounting for approximately 0.4% to 0.6% of all malignancies among
men in the United States.
Risk factors
It is commonest in men in their 60's, and in Asia, Africa and S.
America where it can reach rates of 10-20%.
It can be caused by phimosis and poor genital hygiene.
Circumcisions in newborns results in almost 100% protection.
It can be associated with HPV e.g. PCR studies have identified a
50% incidence of HPV type 16 (most common type) in invasive SCC, 90%
in CIS (most contain E6 - E7 portions).
Psoralens and UV radiation treatment also results in increased
risk.
Up to 40% of patients with SCC penis have a history of a
pre-existing penile lesion.
- Cutaneous horn
- Balanitis Xerotica Oblitarans (lichen sclerosis et atropicus)
- Leukoplakia
- Bowenoid papulosis
- Condyloma acuminatum
- Karposi's Sarcoma
- Buscheke-Lowenstein tumour
- Carcinoma in situ
- Bowens disease
Clinical picture
The usual presentation is a painless sore or ulcer on the prepuce
or glans. Otherwise it can be balanoposthitis and discharge, or
rarely lymphadenopathy. Assessment of the primary disease is via a
biopsy and local invasion assessment can be assisted by US or MRI.
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Staging
The most commonly used staging system is as follows:
Stage I
Stage I penile cancer is cancer limited to the glans and the
foreskin, not involving the shaft of the penis or corpora cavernosa.
Stage II
Stage II penile cancer has invaded the corpora cavernosa of the
penis but has not spread to lymph nodes on clinical exam.
Stage III
Stage III penile cancer has clinical spread to the regional lymph
nodes in the groin. Cure is related to the number and extent of
nodes involved.
Stage IV
Stage IV penile cancer is invasive cancer that has caused extensive
and inoperable involvement of lymph nodes in the groin and/or
distant metastases.
The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) has designated staging
by TNM classification.[1]
TNM definitions
Primary tumor (T)
TX: Primary tumor cannot be assessed
T0: No evidence of primary tumor
Tis: Carcinoma in situ
Ta: Noninvasive verrucous carcinoma
T1: Tumor invades subepithelial connective tissue
T2: Tumor invades corpus spongiosum or cavernosum
T3: Tumor invades urethra or prostate
T4: Tumor invades other adjacent structures
Regional lymph nodes (N)
NX: Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0: No regional lymph node metastasis
N1: Metastasis in a single superficial, inguinal lymph node
N2: Metastasis in multiple or bilateral superficial inguinal lymph
nodes
N3: Metastasis in deep inguinal or pelvic lymph node(s), unilateral
or bilateral
Distant metastasis (M)
MX: Distant metastasis cannot be assessed
M0: No distant metastasis
M1: Distant metastasis
AJCC stage groupings
Stage 0
Tis, N0, M0
Ta, N0, M0
Stage I
T1, N0, M0
Stage II
T1, N1, M0
T2, N0, M0
T2, N1, M0
Stage III
T1, N2, M0
T2, N2, M0
T3, N0, M0
T3, N1, M0
T3, N2, M0
Stage IV
T4, any N, M0
Any T, N3, M0
Any T, any N, M1
Treatment
For lesions limited to the foreskin, wide local excision with
circumcision may be adequate therapy for control.
For carcinoma in situ of the glans (also referred to as
erythroplasia of Queyrat or Bowen's disease of the penis), with or
without adjacent skin involvement, therapeutic options include:
- Local applications of fluorouracil cream.
- Microscopically controlled surgery.
For infiltrating tumors of the glans, with or without involvement
of the adjacent skin, the choice of therapy is dictated by tumor
size, extent of infiltration, and degree of tumor destruction of
normal tissue. Equivalent therapeutic options include:
- Penile amputation.
- Irradiation (external-beam, brachytherapy).
- Microscopically controlled surgery.
Stage II penile cancer is most frequently managed by penile
amputation for local control. Whether the amputation is partial,
total, or radical will depend on the extent and location of the
neoplasm. Radiation therapy with surgical salvage is an alternative
approach.
Inguinal adenopathy in patients with penile cancer is common but
may be the result of infection rather than neoplasm. If palpable
enlarged lymph nodes exist three or more weeks after removal of the
infected primary lesion and a course of antibiotic therapy,
bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection should be performed.
In cases of proven regional inguinal lymph node metastasis
without evidence of distant spread, bilateral ilioinguinal
dissection is the treatment of choice.[1-4] However, since many
patients with positive lymph nodes are not cured, clinical trials
may be appropriate.
Standard treatment options:
Clinically evident regional lymph node metastasis without
evidence of distant spread is an indication for bilateral
ilioinguinal lymph node dissection after penile amputation.
Radiation therapy may be considered as an alternative to lymph
node dissection in patients who are not surgical candidates.
Postoperative irradiation may decrease incidence of inguinal
recurrences.
There is no standard treatment that is curative for patients with
stage IV penile cancer. Therapy is directed at palliation, which may
be achieved either with surgery or radiation therapy.
Standard treatment options:
Palliative surgery may be considered for control of the local
penile lesion and even for the prevention of the necrosis,
infection, and hemorrhage which can result from neglected regional
adenopathy.
Irradiation may be palliative for the primary tumor, regional
adenopathy, and bone metastases.
Treatment options under clinical evaluation:
Clinical trials combining chemotherapy with palliative methods of
local control are appropriate for such patients (tested
chemotherapeutic drugs with some efficacy include vincristine,
cisplatin, methotrexate, and bleomycin). The combination of
vincristine, bleomycin, and methotrexate has been effective both as
adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy.
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