The role of ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy and significance of histological differentiation in treatment of carcinoma of the penis

We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of 58 patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the penis who were followed for more than 3 years or until they died. Tissue sections from all patients were reviewed. Of 15 patients with stage I disease 11 underwent partial penectomy, and 4 underwent partial penectomy and immediate ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy; none died of cancer. Nine patients with stage II and 9 with stage III disease underwent partial or total penectomy and immediate ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy, and 5-year survival was 100 and 75%, respectively. Of 20 patients with clinical stage II disease who did not undergo immediate ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy 18 had metastasis to the groin. Of these 18 patients 12 underwent delayed ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy but only 1 survived more than 5 years. We evaluated the possible significance of the degree of histological differentiation of the primary tumor to the course of the disease. Of the 23 cases of carcinoma in situ or well differentiated disease only 1 became metastatic, while of the 35 cases of moderately to poorly differentiated disease 31 metastasized to the groin. Vascular invasion of cancer cells in the primary tumor was another indicator for poor prognosis.     

33例阴茎癌的外科治疗分析

目的:探讨阴茎癌合理的外科治疗方法。方法:回顾性分析2008年1月~2012年12月间收治的33例阴茎癌患者的临床资料:鳞状细胞癌患者31例,疣状癌患者2例。5例行阴茎局部病变切除术,26例行阴茎部分切除术,2例行阴茎全切加会阴部尿道造口术。行腹股沟淋巴结清扫术20例,其中7例行双侧改良根治性腹股沟淋巴结清扫术,10例行一侧改良根治性腹股沟淋巴结清扫术+对侧改良腹股沟淋巴结清扫术,3例行髂腹股沟淋巴结清扫术+对侧改良腹股沟淋巴结清扫术。结果:33例患者定期随访1~5年,平均随访31个月,1年生存率为93.9%(31/33),2年为87.9%(29/33),5年为72.7%(24/33)。本组6例T1G2期以上阴茎癌患者行预防性腹股沟淋巴结清扫术,术后随访生存率为83%(5/6);而另有14例未行腹股沟淋巴结清扫术,术后随访死亡7例,生存率为50%(7/14)。在33例阴茎癌患者中,9例可扪及单侧或双侧腹股沟淋巴结,行双侧淋巴结活检,有6例为阳性,阳性率高达66.7%(6/9);但有3例阴性患者随访过程中出现腹股沟淋巴结转移,假阴性率为13%(3/23)。有7例伴髂、腹股沟淋巴结转移,随访期间7例患者全部死亡,结论:对阴茎癌患者,合理地选择手术方式切除肿瘤,并合适地选择行腹股沟淋巴结清扫的时机和方式,采用一定的手术技巧,可明显提高患者生存率并减少并发症。     

Long-term followup of penile carcinoma treated with penectomy and bilateral modified inguinal lymphadenectomy

PURPOSE: We evaluated modified inguinal lymphadenectomy in the treatment of penile carcinoma, analyzing the rate of complications compared to complete inguinal lymphadenectomy, the complications in performing lymphadenectomy and penectomy concomitantly, and the long-term locoregional recurrence rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 26 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis were clinically assessed, and underwent penectomy and bilateral modified inguinal lymphadenectomy at the same operative time. Frozen section analysis of lymph nodes was performed and if metastases were detected a complete ipsilateral inguinal dissection was performed. RESULTS: A total of 52 modified lymphadenectomies were performed. In 10 procedures lymph node metastasis was present. Clinical staging presented false-positive and false-negative rates of 50% and 7.9%, respectively. The complication rate for modified lymphadenectomy was 38.9% and for complete inguinal lymphadenectomy it was 87.5%. Followup ranged from 5 to 112 months and mean followup of recurrence-free cases was 78 months (range 38 to 112). A total of 18 patients underwent bilateral negative modified inguinal lymphadenectomy and 2 of these experienced locoregional recurrence within 2 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Modified inguinal lymphadenectomy causes a lower complication rate than complete inguinal lymphadenectomy. Bilateral modified inguinal lymphadenectomy performed at the same time as penectomy does not increase the complication rate. When frozen section analysis is negative bilaterally, 5.5% of inguinal regions might still harbor occult metastasis. Modified inguinal lymphadenectomy is recommended as a staging procedure in all patients with T2-3 penile carcinoma. A straight followup is required for 2 years since all recurrence was within this period.     

Partial Penectomy for Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Penis: The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Experience

Background To present our institution’s experience with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis, with analysis of oncologic efficacy and survival. Methods Between 1989 and 2005, we identified 32 consecutive patients (median age, 61 years) with SCC of the penis managed with partial penectomy. Clinicopathologic variables were examined, and overall and disease-specific survival were determined. Results Pathologic stage of the primary tumor was pTis in 1 patient (3%), pT1 in 11 (34%), pT2 in 16 (50%), and pT3 in 4 (13%). Pathologic grade was well differentiated in 9 patients (28%), moderately differentiated in 20 (63%), and poorly differentiated in 2 (6%). Twenty-five patients (78%) underwent inguinal lymph node dissection, with 15 (60%) demonstrating nodal metastases. Twenty-two patients (69%) underwent pelvic lymph node dissection; 21 were negative for pelvic nodal metastases, and 1 had grossly positive nodes. One patient developed local recurrence. After a mean follow-up of 34 months, overall survival was 56%. Numbers of patients alive and disease-free were 9 and 11 in the low-stage and advanced-stage groups, and 8 and 12 in the well and moderately differentiated groups, respectively. Both patients with poorly differentiated disease died of disease within 12 months from presentation. Conclusions Partial penectomy for SCC of the penis provides excellent local control, with low recurrence rate, and acceptable maintenance of urinary and sexual function. Outcomes are generally poor, however, for patients with regional metastases, even in moderately differentiated disease. Future studies are needed to identify a reliable method of predicting regional metastases.     

Penile carcinoma: A twenty-five-year experience

The treatment of 34 patients with carcinoma of the penis was reviewed during a twenty-five-year period (1958-1983). There were 26 patients with Stage I disease, 7 patients with Stage II, and 1 patient with Stage III disease. Among the Stage I group, 12 patients underwent partial/total penectomy and immediate ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy; 14 patients were treated with partial/total penectomy and observation of clinically nonpalpable nodes. Within the observation period, 10 of the 26 patients died, with a mean survival time of one hundred thirty-three months (standard error = 20.4), and a median of one hundred twenty months. Both the Mantel-Cox and Breslow test statistics showed the survival distribution of these groups of patients not to be significantly different from each other. All 7 patients with Stage II penile cancer died, with a mean survival time of 10.6 months (standard error = 2.1) which is significantly different from the Stage I group and the reported survival of 30-60 percent in the literature. A plan of management for the primary lesion and the role of ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy are presented.     

Multi-institutional long-term experience with conservative surgery for invasive penile carcinoma

PURPOSE: Invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the penis occurs on the glans, prepuce, glans and prepuce, coronal sulcus and shaft. Penile squamous cell carcinoma subsequently invades local structures, corpora cavernosa and the urethra, and metastasizes to the inguinal lymph nodes. Invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the penis usually requires total or partial penectomy. We studied the effect of primary tumor resections tailored to the anatomical extent of the cancer with preservation of uninvolved structures in select patients with invasive penile squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30 patients between 39 and 82 years old were treated with unconventional conservative surgical excision of the primary penile lesion. More than 130 patients were excluded from the study because they were treated with partial or total penectomy, Mohs' surgery or more extensive surgery. The 30 patients underwent preoperative biopsy with careful mapping of the extent of the disease. Patient age, tumor extent and grade, operative details, outcome and length of followup were analyzed. RESULTS: Tumor size ranged from 1.5 to 8 cm. in diameter. Tumors were well differentiated in 19 patients, moderately differentiated in 5 and poorly differentiated in 6. A total of 17 patients underwent ilioinguinal lymphadenectomy, 12 of whom had pathologically positive lymph nodes. Inguinal radiation was used in 2 patients. Chemotherapy was given to 7 patients with extensive inguinal lymphadenopathy and to 2 of 5 with pathologically positive lymph nodes. Followup ranged from 12 to 360 months. A total of 21 patients had no evidence of disease at last followup. Tumor resection with no sacrifice of function was performed in 2 patients in whom 3 small recurrences developed. One patient with numerous tumors had 2 small recurrences, which were completely excised with no further recurrence. Of the 7 patients with advanced lymphadenopathy 5 and of 5 patients with pathologically positive lymph nodes at presentation 1 died of the cancer but had no local recurrence in the penis. CONCLUSIONS: In a minority of patients with anatomically suitable penile cancer conservative surgical techniques are safe and provide equal tumor control compared to conventional resections. The anatomical situation and tumor characteristics should dictate the choice of treatment for the primary penile lesion. Inguinal lymph nodes should be managed by appropriately established guidelines but should not influence the extent of primary penile lesion resection.     

Sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma of the penis: a clinical and pathological study of 5 cases

PURPOSE: We analyzed clinical, morphological and immunohistochemical features in 5 cases of sarcomatoid or spindle cell squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical and pathological files of all patients with penile carcinoma treated at our hospital between 1956 and 2002 were reviewed. Cases diagnosed as sarcomatoid squamous cell cancer were selected. RESULTS: Five of 341 patients (1.4%) had sarcomatoid penile carcinoma. Tumor stage was T2N0 in 2 patients, T2N2 in 2 and T4N3 in 1. In all patients partial or total penectomy was eventually performed. Three patients underwent bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy. Four of 5 patients had distant metastatic disease and died within 1 year after diagnosis. One patient had exclusive hematogenous spread without lymph node involvement. Foci of distant metastatic tumor sites were the lung, skin, bone, pericardium and pleura. In 4 patients the diagnosis was based on the expression of keratin filaments in a predominantly spindle cell penile tumor or by the identification of carcinomatous and sarcomatoid areas on hematoxylin and eosin stained slides of the primary tumor. In 1 case a squamous component in a lymph node metastasis rendered the keratin negative spindle cell primary tumor sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma of the penis is a subtype of squamous cell carcinoma with a poor prognosis often associated with wide hematogeneous spread. It is a rare malignancy that is often difficult to diagnose, requiring additional immunohistochemical stains.     

Recurrence of bladder cancer in fossa navicularis 12 years after total cystectomy: a case report

We report a case of urothelial cancer recurrence in fossa navicularis of urethra 12 years after total cystourethrectomy for bladder cancer. A 73-year-old man had undergone total cystourethrectomy and ureterocutancostomy for multiple bladder cancer on June 13, 1986. Histopathological findings showed transitional cell carcinoma, G3, pT4 with carcinoma in situ. Twelve years after the cystectomy, he was admitted to our hospital complaining of the induration of the glans penis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a high intensity tumor in T1-WI and low intensity tumor in T2-WI, which had invaded fossa navicularis of urethra to glans penis. Aspiration biopsy of the penile tumor revealed transitional cell carcinoma. Therefore, we performed partial penectomy on July 16, 1998, since computed tomography showed no lymph node swelling in the inguinal region. Five months after the second operation, he was diagnosed with bilateral inguinal lymph node metastasis. Then we performed 2-course M-VAC (methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin cisplatin) therapy, which showed partial response. Thereafter, bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy with one-course postoperative M-VAC therapy was performed.     

Surgical therapy of penis carcinoma

Primary therapy of penile cancer (carcinoma in situ/T1 tumors) consists of circumcision, microsurgical excision, application of 5-fluorouracil cream, radiation, or laser treatment. In cases of larger T1 tumors or T2 and distal T3 tumors, partial penectomy with a 2-cm margin of clearance is mandatory. Secondary therapy includes inguinal lymphadenectomy 4-6 weeks after primary treatment and antibiotic prophylaxis. Independent prognostic factors for the presence of lymph node metastases are T stage and grading. Only patients with noninvasive G1 or G2 tumors and nonpalpable inguinal lymph nodes are candidates for surveillance with careful follow-up. Inguinal lymphadenectomy is performed in a radical or modified (Catalona) manner. Sentinel biopsy (Cabanas) may regain importance with the use of gamma probes. Complication rates of inguinal lymphadenectomy correlate to the extent of the procedure and must be weighed against the possibility of cure with lymphadenectomy. In cases of inguinal lymph node metastasis, removal of the iliac lymph nodes (one- or two-step procedure) is necessary.     

A rare case of penile cancer in situ metastasizing to lymph nodes

Penile carcinoma in situ, or Queyrat''s erythroplasia, is a rare condition of the glans penis. This lesion has been associated with invasive squamous cell carcinoma; however, metastasis without an invasive component is extremely rare. There have only been 2 documented cases with metachronous metastases. We report a third case in which metastases were diagnosed at presentation. The patient was a 51-year-old man who presented with a glans penile lesion and bilateral inguinal masses later determined to be carcinoma in situ with metastases to the inguinal and pelvic lymph nodes. He subsequently underwent a partial penectomy and lymphadenectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. This case is discussed, along with a brief review of the literature.     

Cáncer de pene. Nuestra experiencia en 15 años

ObjectiveTo review and analysis the diagnosis, treatment, evolution, and risk factors of the penis cancer.Material and MethodsWe carried out a retrospective study between 1992 and 2007. We included 47 patients with penis cancer diagnose of treated in our service. We analyzed risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. The staging was done according to the TNM classification, taking into account the physical exam, radiology and the surgical findings. The average time of follow-up was 50 months (range 12 to 120 months). For univariate statistical analysis the Chi-square test was used, and for the survival the method of Kaplan Meir.ResultsMean age was 60 years (28-91 years), being 95% older than 50. At the diagnosis 16 patients (34%) had lymphatic nodes, being the most frequent location was unilateral inguinal nodes (62%). Of the 27 cases (57%) who underwent blood calcium check at the time of diagnosis, we found hypercalcaemia in 8 patients (30%). The surgical treatment was the gold standard treatment. The technique more frequently employed was the partial penectomy 25 (53%). 4 patients received radiotherapy as inicial treatment. Lymphadenectomy was performed in 14 patients, mostly bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy (8 patients). The pathology finding at 100% of the cases was squamous cell carcinoma (80% well differentiated). Regarding to the TNM, most of the patients had a clinical stage located: t1n0m0 23%, t2n0m0 27%. The most significant adverse prognostic factors were the presence of lymph nodes, clinical stage at the diagnosis and the degree of cell differentiation (p = 0001). At the last review 36 (76%) cases were free of disease. There were 11 (24%) cases that presented recurrence and were treated: 3 patients with radiotherapy, surgery was used in 7 patients and 1 patient with chemotherapy. Eleven patients died during follor up, 9 of thes from disease progression.ConclusionsThe carcinoma of the penis remains a rare malignancy in our centre. Hypercalcemia is a common finding when patients have lymph nodes. The most significant adverse prognostic factors were the presence of lymph nodes, clinical stage at the diagnosis and the degree of cell differentiation. The most effective treatment for cancer of the penis is surgery reserving chemotherapy and radiation therapy for the recurrence.     

Surgical treatment of penile carcinoma: our experience from 1976 to 1997

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work is to evaluate our experience with the surgical treatment of penile squamous carcinoma, analyzing the therapeutic results in terms of local recurrence rates, survival and mortality rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 1976 to 1997, 47 patients were treated at our institution for carcinoma of penis. Treatment of primary tumor was conservative in 8 patients (17%). Partial penectomy was performed in 30 patients (63.8%); total penectomy in 5 (10.7%) and emasculation in 4 (8.5%). Pathological stage was pTis in 2 cases (4.2%), pT1 in 20 (42.6%), pT2 in 21 (44. 7%) and pT3 in 4 (8.5%). The tumor was clinically overstaged in 13 patients (27.7%) and understaged in 4 (8.5%). Bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy was performed only in 4 patients clinically N+ (pN2) and in 3 clinically N0 (pN0). RESULTS: Local recurrence rate was 43% in the patients with pT1 stage tumor treated conservatively. No local recurrence was observed after penectomy. 19 patients (40.4%) are alive and disease-free; 17 patients (36.2%) died of the tumor and 11 patients (23.4%) died of other causes but disease-free. Mean follow-up is 69.43 months. The overall 5-year survival rate was 34%. CONCLUSION: Partial penectomy gives better results than conservative treatment in the local management of the T1 stage tumor. Survival and mortality rates are related to both pathological and histological stages. The high mortality rate observed in the pT2 stage tumors in our experience might be related to the fact that in this stage an inguinal lymphadenectomy was not performed as a rule.     

阴茎疣状癌的诊治

目的探讨阴茎鳞状细胞癌的特殊类型疣状癌的诊断和治疗方法。方法回顾性分析8例阴茎疣状癌患者的诊治资料。患者平均年龄46岁。肿瘤均为菜花状、外生型，最大径2—6cm，局限于阴茎头5例，侵犯至冠状沟近侧3例。经活检病理诊断后，3例肿瘤侵犯冠状沟近侧者和1例位于阴茎头肿瘤较大者行阴茎部分切除术，4例局限于阴茎头者行肿瘤局部切除术。结果病理检查见肿瘤细胞分化好，标本切缘均阴性。1例肿瘤局部切除术者术后14个月阴茎残端复发，再行阴茎部分切除术，术后随访9年，无肿瘤复发或转移。其余7例术后随访4～13年，均无肿瘤复发或转移。肿瘤局部切除术者术后性生活较满意。结论阴茎疣状癌的生物学行为以局部侵袭性生长为主，很少发生区域性淋巴结转移或远处转移，采用恰当的治疗方法后患者预后好。     

阴茎疣状癌的诊治(附4例报告)

目的:探讨阴茎疣状癌的诊断和治疗方法。方法:分析4例阴茎疣状癌患者的临床、病理资料。结果:患者年龄42~76(平均52)岁。肿瘤均呈菜花状、外生型生长,最大直径1.4~5.8 cm。2例病变局限于阴茎头,另2例肿瘤侵犯至冠状沟(其中1例合并梅毒感染)。1例肿瘤局限于阴茎头且瘤体较小者(直径1.4 cm)行阴茎头切除术;1例肿瘤局限于阴茎头且瘤体较大者及2例肿瘤侵犯至冠状沟者均行阴茎部分切除术(其中1例合并梅毒感染者经苄星青霉素治疗后再手术)。4例患者肿瘤标本病理显示肿瘤细胞分化好,切缘均呈阴性。标本切片均显示上皮呈乳头瘤状结构并过度角化,肿瘤细胞于基底部呈球茎状推进式生长。周围间质见淋巴细胞浸润。术后随访3~7年,平均4.6年,肿瘤均无复发。合并梅毒感染者术后复查快速血浆反应素试验转为阴性,梅毒螺旋体颗粒凝集试验仍呈阳性。结论:阴茎疣状癌表现为局部侵袭性生长,很少有淋巴结或远处转移者。治疗方法采用阴茎头切除或阴茎部分切除术,患者预后较好。     

Tumor stage, vascular invasion and the percentage of poorly differentiated cancer: independent prognosticators for inguinal lymph node metastasis in penile squamous cancer

PURPOSE: We determine if histopathological factors of the primary penile tumor can stratify the risk of the development of inguinal lymph node metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical records of 48 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis who underwent resection of the primary lesion and either inguinal lymph node dissection or were observed for signs of recurrence (median followup 59 months) were reviewed. Parameters examined included pathological tumor stage, quantified depth of invasion and tumor thickness, histological and nuclear grade, percentage of poorly differentiated cancer in the primary tumor, number of mitoses and presence or absence of vascular invasion. Variables were compared in 18 lymph node positive and 30 lymph node negative cases. RESULTS: Pathological tumor stage, vascular invasion and presence of greater than 50% poorly differentiated cancer were the strongest predictors of nodal metastasis on univariate and multivariate regression analyses. None of 15 pT1 tumors exhibited vascular invasion or lymph node metastases. Of 33 patients with pT2 or greater tumors 21 (64%) had vascular invasion and 18 (55%) had metastases. Only 4 of 25 patients (15%) with 50% or less poorly differentiated cancer in the penile tumor had metastases compared with 14 of 23 patients (61%) with greater than 50% poorly differentiated cancer (p = 0.001). No other variables tested were significantly different among the patient cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Pathological stage of the penile tumor, vascular invasion and greater than 50% poorly differentiated cancer were independent prognostic factors for inguinal lymph node metastasis. Prophylactic lymphadenectomy in compliant patients with pT1 lesions without vascular invasion and 50% or less poorly differentiated cancer does not appear warranted.     

Outcome of penile cancer in circumcised men

PURPOSE: We previously reported on a group of patients with post-circumcision carcinoma of the penis. We now study the long-term outcome of these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the available charts of 22 patients presenting between October 1979 and May 2000. RESULTS: Of 22 patients 18 underwent ritual circumcision with extensive scar development. Median age at diagnosis was 62.4 years. The penile lesion was dorsal and proximally located in 15 patients. Median delay before diagnosis was 12 months. Clinically 14 patients had stage T1-T2 disease, with 13 having no lymph node involvement and none with distant metastasis, 8 patients had stage T3-T4 disease. A total of 15 patients were treated surgically with total penectomy (10) or conservative local excision (5), inguinal lymph node dissection (9) and subsequent penile reconstruction (3). Pathological staging in 15 patients revealed 10 patients with stage T1 and in 8 patients with lymph node dissection none had nodal metastasis. Histopathological classification was 20 squamous cell carcinoma, 1 sarcoma and 1 verrucous carcinoma. Six patients refused surgery and 1 was referred for palliation. Median followup was 14.5 months and median survival was 14.5 months. The 3-year survival was 42% for stage T1-T2 and 13% for T3-T4 (p = 0.0052). Median survival for the surgical group was 34 months whereas for nonsurgical group was 3 months (p = 0.0016). Recurrence-free survival in the surgical group was 50%. CONCLUSIONS: Penile carcinoma in circumcised men is a distinct disease commonly following nonclassic vigorous circumcision. Delayed diagnosis and deferring surgical treatment are associated with increased mortality.     

阴茎转移癌18例临床分析

目的探讨阴茎转移癌的临床特点、诊治方法及预后。方法回顾性分析18例阴茎转移癌患者的临床及随访资料并复习相关文献。18例患者原发肿瘤包括膀胱癌8例,前列腺癌4例,直肠癌2例,结肠癌、肾癌、食管癌和肺癌各1例。其中9例患者接受了阴茎切除+静脉化疗,5例患者仅接受静脉化疗未行阴茎切除术,2例患者仅接受了阴茎局部放疗,1例肾癌患者仅接受了索拉菲尼靶向治疗。结果本组18例患者中,从确诊原发肿瘤至出现阴茎转移时间为1~100月,平均(18.7±1.9)月。从确诊阴茎转移至患者死亡时间为4~23月,平均(10.2±1.7)月。所有18例患者均死于出现阴茎转移2年内。结论阴茎转移癌是一种罕见且预后较差的疾病,即使进行治疗,多数患者仍死于确诊阴茎转移1年内。逆行性静脉途经是发生阴茎转移的主要机制。阴茎切除仅限于缓解局部症状而不应常规应用。     

Metastatic carcinoma of the penis: complete remission after high dose methotrexate chemotherapy.

A case of extensive metastatic epidermoid carcinoma of the penis is reported. Disseminated disease developed after penectomy and lymphadenectomy and it continued to progress while the patient received radiation therapy. Chemotherapy with high dose methotrexate followed by citrovorum factor rescue was instituted. After completion of 10 weekly cycles of treatment there was biopsy-proved complete regression of all lesions, which lasted 9 months when the patient suddenly died of pneumonia completely unrelated to the tumor or chemotherapy treatment. This chemotherapeutic approach deserves additional trial in patients with advanced stages of penile carcinoma.     

Expression of Ki-67 in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Ki-67 labelling index (LI) as a prognostic factor for the outcome of penile carcinoma, as in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx the expression of this marker correlates with histological features indicative of prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the records of 44 patients in whom primary SCC of the penis was treated with amputation and bilateral lymphadenectomy (pT1, in 24, pT2 in 20, pN+ in 10; G1 in 12, G2 in 28 and G3 in four). During a mean follow-up of 35.6 months, four patients had disease progression. Tumour tissue was stained immunohistochemically using the streptavidin-biotin method. The mean Ki-67 LI was defined as the percentage of total tumour cells that were Ki-67-positive. The results were compared with pathological tumour stage, grade, nodal status and clinical disease progression. RESULTS: The mean (range) Ki-67 LI was 40.5 (6.4-93.0)%; a high mean Ki-67 LI was significantly inversely correlated with tumour differentiation (P < 0.005) and there was a tendency for a high Ki-67 LI to be associated with advanced local tumour stage, nodal metastasis and clinical disease progression, but these correlations were not statistically significant (P = 0.07, 0.07 and 0.06, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The Ki-67 LI is correlated with tumour grade in penile cancer, and may indicate a greater risk of nodal metastasis.