Surgical treatment of primary disease for penile squamous cell carcinoma: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database analysis

Abstract

Abstract. Current guidelines recommend penile sparing surgery (PSS) for selected penile cancer cases. The present study described the use of PSS in a population-based cohort, and also examined the role of PSS on penile cancer-specific mortality (PCSM). Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were used to identify individuals that were diagnosed with penile squamous cell carcinoma between 1998 and 2009 and treated with surgery. Patients were sorted into two groups: Local tumor excision (LTE) and partial/total penectomy (PE). Factors associated with the receipt of LTE and PCSM following LTE were examined. In addition, PCSM was compared between LTE and PE following propensity score matching. Of the 1,292 eligible patients, 24.2% underwent LTE. For stage T1 disease, the rates of LTE increased moderately from 29 to 40% over the last decade. Following multivariate analyses, young age, African descent, a tumor size of <3 cm and stage T1 disease were identified to positively influence the receipt of LTE. With a median follow-up period of 55 months, the four-year PCSM rate was 9.8% in patients treated with LTE. Older age, a tumor size of 3-4 cm and regional/distant disease (SEER stage) were significant predictors of PCSM. Furthermore, in matched cohorts with stage T1 disease, the four-year PCSM rates were 8.9 and 10.0% for patients that received LTE or PE, respectively (P=0.93). In conclusion, underuse of PSS is pronounced in the general community with significant age and ethnicity disparities. The current population-based study provides evidence supporting the oncological safety of PSS compared with PE in early-stage disease.

Disparities in Penile Cancer

“…26 Following a multivariable analyses, age younger than 65 years, African American descent, tumor size of less than 3 cm, and pathological stage disease of no higher than T1 were reported predictors for the use of local tumor excision as surgical treatment of the primary penile tumor as part of a penile-sparing approach. 26 The authors concluded that penile-sparing surgery is underutilized in the general population, and significant age and racial/ethnic disparities exist in its use. 26 Other studies have noted that the majority of pa- tients identified with penile SCC in the SEER data set were treated with surgical therapy, and a small percentage of patients received radiotherapy alone or as adjuvant therapy.…”

“…24 Demographical, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities can influence the treatments offered for patients with penile cancer in different populations (Table 2). 25,26 Zhu et al 26 used data from SEER to identify individuals diagnosed with penile SCC from 1998 to 2009 and treated with either local tumor excision or partial or total penectomy for their primary tumor. Of the 1,292 eligible patients, 24.2% underwent local tumor excision for surgical treatment of penile cancer.…”

“…Of the 1,292 eligible patients, 24.2% underwent local tumor excision for surgical treatment of penile cancer. 26 For stage T1 disease, the rates of local tumor excision increased from 29% to 40% within 10 years. 26 Following a multivariable analyses, age younger than 65 years, African American descent, tumor size of less than 3 cm, and pathological stage disease of no higher than T1 were reported predictors for the use of local tumor excision as surgical treatment of the primary penile tumor as part of a penile-sparing approach.…”

“…26 For stage T1 disease, the rates of local tumor excision increased from 29% to 40% within 10 years. 26 Following a multivariable analyses, age younger than 65 years, African American descent, tumor size of less than 3 cm, and pathological stage disease of no higher than T1 were reported predictors for the use of local tumor excision as surgical treatment of the primary penile tumor as part of a penile-sparing approach. 26 The authors concluded that penile-sparing surgery is underutilized in the general population, and significant age and racial/ethnic disparities exist in its use.…”

“…26 The authors concluded that penile-sparing surgery is underutilized in the general population, and significant age and racial/ethnic disparities exist in its use. 26 Other studies have noted that the majority of pa- tients identified with penile SCC in the SEER data set were treated with surgical therapy, and a small percentage of patients received radiotherapy alone or as adjuvant therapy. 27,28 No statistically significant sociodemographic or racial/ethnic differences were reported with regard to radiotherapy for penile cancer due to small sample size.…”