建立预测阴茎鳞状细胞癌区域淋巴结转移风险的列线图

目的 根据阴茎癌原发灶的病理指标,建立预测阴茎鳞状细胞癌区域淋巴结转移风险的列线图. 方法 收集1990-2005年73例阴茎鳞状细胞癌患者资料,患者均接受阴茎肿瘤切除和区域淋巴结清扫术.免疫组化法检测分子指标(p53、Ki-67、E-cadherin和MMP-9)的表达水平.采用Logistic回归模型建立列线图.预测淋巴结转移的变量包括年龄、分期、分级、蛋白表达水平(p53、Ki-67、E-cadherin和MMP-9)和脉管侵犯.其中年龄为连续变量,分期、分级、蛋白表达水平和脉管侵犯为分类变量. 结果 肿瘤分级、p53表达水平和脉管侵犯是预测区域淋巴结转移的独立预后因素(P<0.05),回归系数分别为3.97、2.12和2.37,OR值分别为52.99、8.33和10.70.用于预测淋巴结转移风险的列线图显示出良好的一致系数(0.92)和良好的校准. 结论 基于阴茎鳞状细胞癌原发灶的病理特征,构建预测区域淋巴结转移风险的列线图,不仅有助于个体化的判断肿瘤转移的风险,并且有助于与患者的交流和治疗选择.     

阴茎鳞状细胞癌淋巴结清扫术后复发类型及预后因素分析

目的 评估阴茎癌原发灶切除术及标准淋巴结清扫术后复发类型和影响预后的可能因素. 方法 回顾性分析1990 -2005年73例阴茎鳞状细胞癌患者资料.阴茎部分切除62例,阴茎全切11例.73例均接受区域淋巴结清扫.随访时间16 ～183个月,平均32个月.免疫组化法检测肿瘤细胞p53和Ki-67的表达水平.统计学分析患者复发类型、病理特征及预后. 结果 患者术后肿瘤复发20例(27.4％),复发时间为术后6 ～ 17个月,平均11个月,其中3例在末次随访时仍存活.复发患者的肿瘤特异性生存时间为16 ～83个月,平均26个月.远处及多处复发为高级别肿瘤的常见复发类型(P =0.017).单因素分析显示肿瘤分期、病理分级、淋巴结转移、淋巴结外累及和p53蛋白表达水平与3年无病生存率降低密切相关.多因素分析显示只有病理分级(P =0.025)和淋巴结状态(P =0.024)是无病生存率的独立预后因素. 结论 病理分级和淋巴结状态是阴茎癌无病生存率的独立预后因素,高级别肿瘤易发生远处及多处复发.     

58例阴茎鳞状细胞癌治疗的临床分析

目的:提高阴茎鳞状细胞癌的治疗水平,寻求鳞状细胞癌合理有效的治疗方法。方法:回顾分析58例病理活检证实阴茎鳞状细胞癌治疗的临床资料。结果:按照Jackson分期,Ⅰ期25例,Ⅱ期18例,Ⅲ期11例,Ⅳ期4例。53例行手术治疗;行阴茎肿瘤局部切除及阴茎癌部分切除43例;阴茎全切除并尿道会阴部造口术及髂腹股沟淋巴清扫术10例(腹股沟淋巴结均阳性,髂淋巴结阳性1例)。术前新辅助治疗(热疗加化疗)联合术后化疗37例,仅术后化疗12例,单纯手术治疗4例;5例未手术治疗患者行化疗和/或放疗。48例随访2~5年,4例行阴茎部分切除者2年内复发,4例2年内死亡,7例2~5年内死亡,2年生存率为91.7%,5年生存率为77.1%,10例失访或随访期未满2~5年。结论:外科手术治疗、术前新辅助治疗联合术后化疗是目前治疗阴茎鳞状细胞癌的有效方法,淋巴结的清扫根据临床分级具体处理,手术联合术前新辅助治疗及术后化、放疗是否可减少复发及提高生存率,还需进一步研究。     

阴茎癌临床病理特征及术后生存分析

目的 分析阴茎癌患者临床病理特征以及对患者术后生存情况的影响. 方法 回顾性分析2002 - 2010年就诊的93例阴茎癌患者资料.计算阴茎癌的临床病理特征分布,以及不同病理类型阴茎癌的术后生存情况.采用Kaplan-Meier法绘制生存曲线,计算生存率,并采用log-rank 检验进行生存比较. 结果 93例患者年龄23 ～ 82岁,中位年龄为51岁.病理类型以鳞状细胞癌最常见,为87例(93.5％).61例获随访,随访2～89个月,平均28个月.3例疣状癌分别随访12、19、67个月,均无复发生存.55例侵袭性阴茎鳞状细胞癌患者中11例死于阴茎癌肿瘤转移,术后生存时间为2～24个月,平均10个月,2年生存率为75.7％(95％CI为63.O％～88.4％).12例淋巴结转移者6例死亡,43例淋巴结阴性患者5例死亡,两者比较差异有统计学意义(P=0.000). 结论 阴茎癌以鳞状细胞癌最为常见,伴有淋巴结转移患者的预后明显较差.疣状癌发病率较低,很少出现淋巴结转移,预后良好.     

阴茎癌改良病理N分期在中国人群中的预测价值

目的探讨加入腹股沟淋巴结转移个数及腹股沟转移侧数的阴茎癌改良病理N分期在中国人群患者中的预测价值。方法回顾性分析1999年3月至2013年1月中山大学附属肿瘤医院团队治疗的246例阴茎鳞状细胞癌患者的临床及病理资料。所有患者均接受原发灶处理及改良根治腹股沟淋巴结清扫术治疗并采用标准化方式收获淋巴结(清扫淋巴结数目≥8枚)。Kaplan-Meier法进行疾病特异性生存率(DSS)分析并采用Log-rank检验进行比较,Cox比例风险模型进行多因素分析。卡方检验、AIC标准和C-index一致性系数进行预测模型的评估。Bootstrap再抽样法(500次)进行模型验证。结果最终111例阴茎癌患者纳入分析。按照国际抗癌联盟-美国癌症联合委员会(UICC-AJCC)的第7版病理N分期标准,pN1、pN2、pN3患者3年DSS分别为89.6%、65.9%、33.6%(P_(N1-N2)=0.030,P_(N2-N3)0.001,P0.001);按照改良病理分期标准,pN1、pN2、pN3患者3年DSS分别为90.7%、60.5%、31.4%(P_(N1-N2)=0.005,P_(N2-N3)=0.004,P0.001)。在多种Cox多因素分析中,仅改良病理N分期具有预测价值(HR:4.877,10.895;P=0.018,0.001)。模型评估结果显示改良病理N分期系统在中国人群中的预测准确性显著增加。结论阴茎癌改良病理N分期可以更好地预测中国人群患者的预后。阴茎癌改良病理N分期可有利于指导个体化治疗。     

影响阴茎癌患者术后预后危险因素的研究

目的:探讨阴茎癌患者术后预后的危险因素,为预测阴茎癌术后患者的预后提供更多有价值的信息。方法:回顾性分析2006～2018年于青岛大学附属医院行手术治疗的142例阴茎癌患者的临床资料,包括年龄、吸烟、肿瘤大小、原发部位、TNM分期、组织病理学分级、术前外周血中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞值(neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio,NLR)、淋巴细胞/单核细胞值(lymphocyte to monocyte ratio,LMR)、纤维蛋白原值(fibrinogen level,FIB)、腹股沟病理性淋巴结性质(pathology of inguinal lymph nodes,PL)、手术类型等,利用Kaplan-meier生存分析法计算出总体生存率(overall survival,OS)及肿瘤特异性生存率(cancer specific survival,CSS)并绘制生存曲线,采用单因素及Cox回归模型分析影响阴茎癌患者术后预后的相关因素。结果:阴茎癌手术后患者的3年与5年OS分别为82.9%、75.2%,;3年与5年的CSS分别为89.0%、83.7%;单因素分析结果显示,肿瘤N分期、组织病理学分级、NLR、LMR、FIB、PL可能为影响患者预后的重要因素(P0.05);经COX比例风险回归模型分析表明PL、FIB为阴茎癌术后患者的独立危险因素。结论:PL阳性、术前外周血高FIB是影响阴茎癌患者预后的独立危险因素,可以作为阴茎癌术后患者预后的有力预测指标。     

肿瘤分期,血管浸润和异形细胞占的比例:阴茎鳞状细胞癌发生腹股沟淋巴结转移的独立预测因素

股沟淋巴结转移是影响浸润性阴茎鳞状细胞癌患者预后的重要因素 ,早期腹股沟淋巴结清除术可提高生存率。体格检查、淋巴结穿刺细胞学检查假阳性率高 (2 5 % ) ,可靠方法是腹股沟淋巴结清除后病理检查。因此确定阴茎鳞状细胞癌发生腹股沟淋巴结转移的独立预测因素 ,选择高危阴茎鳞状细胞癌患者行治疗性腹股沟淋巴结清除术是重要的。材料和方法　 48例阴茎鳞状细胞癌患者 ,切除原发灶 ,行腹股沟淋巴结清除或严密随访 (平均随访 5 9个月 )。检查内容包括 :肿瘤病理分期 ,肿瘤大小 ,浸润深度 ,分级 ,在原发癌中异形细胞占的比例 ,有无血管浸润。…     

淋巴结转移率较TNM分期是否能更好地预测结肠癌患者的预后？

目前,临床根据TNM分期来判断Ⅲ期结肠癌患者是否进行辅助化疗。临床N分期越高,患者预后越差。有研究显示,淋巴结转移率比TNM分期能更好地预测患者预后。为了验证研究结论的正确与否,Schiffmann L等人收集了在2000～2009年期间接受根治术的142例Ⅲ期结肠癌患者的信息,并根据淋巴结转移率分成两组——低淋巴结转移率组和高淋巴结转移率组,分别与临床N1和N2分期患者比较无病生存率和癌症相关生存率。     

2004年和1973年世界卫生组织肿瘤分级预测局限浸润性膀胱癌复发价值的比较

目的 比较2004年和1973年WHO肿瘤分级预测局限浸润性(T分期≤pT2b)膀胱尿路上皮癌行根治性膀胱切除术后肿瘤复发概率的价值.方法 回顾分析2000年2月至2011年8月具有完善随访结果的173例局限浸润性膀胱尿路上皮癌患者的临床及随访资料.采用Kaplan-Meier法和Log-rank检验评估无复发生存率(RFS);Cox比例风险模型进行单因素及多因素分析评估膀胱癌各传统预后因素(肿瘤分期、分级,淋巴结状况,淋巴血管肿瘤浸润情况,术前肾积水,是否纯尿路上皮癌)对RFS的影响.结果 患者5年RFS为84.7％.Cox分析显示,采用2004年WHO分级时,淋巴结阳性(RR =4.573,95％ CI:1.469～14.237)、肿瘤分级(RR=9.993,95％ CI:1.325 ～ 75.390)、术前肾积水(RR=3.207,95％ CI:1.209 ～8.508)是RFS的独立预测因素;采用1973年WHO分级时,淋巴结阳性(RR=9.484,95％ CI:3.450 ～26.074)和淋巴血管肿瘤浸润(RR=3.009,95％ CI:1.062 ～8.526)是RFS的独立预测因素.结论 2004年WHO分级作为RFS的独立预测因素,较1973年WHO分级更适用于T2b期以下局限浸润性膀胱癌,但仍需要进一步的前瞻性研究以证实其预后预测作用.     

阴茎鳞状细胞癌腹股沟淋巴结转移的危险因素分析

目的 探讨阴茎鳞状细胞癌腹股沟淋巴结转移的危险因素,筛选淋巴结转移的高危患者.方法 回顾性分析81例阴茎鳞状细胞癌患者临床及病理资料.年龄27～81岁,中位年龄49岁.病程＜1年者46例(56.8%),≥1年者35例(43.2%).行单侧腹股沟淋巴结清扫6例,双侧腹股沟淋巴结清扫75例.按2002年TNM分期标准进行分期,并记录患者年龄、有无包皮过长/包茎史、肿瘤部位、大小、数目、形状、分级、腹股沟淋巴结体格检查情况和淋巴结大小等指标.结果 81例患者中经病理证实有区域淋巴结转移者pN+42例(51.9%),无淋巴结转移者pN0 39例(48.1%).G1、G2、G3患者区域淋巴结转移发生率分别为32.0%(16/50)、78.3%(18/23)和100.0%(8/8),各组间比较差异有统计学意义(P=0.015).根据腹股沟淋巴结体格检查结果,cN+和cN0患者区域淋巴结转移发生率分别为63.5%(40/63)和11.1%(2/18),2组差异有统计学意义(P=0.012).81例均获随访,随访时间2～127个月,中位时间40个月.腹股沟淋巴结转移阳性患者与阴性患者的5年无病生存率分别为71.4%与92.3%(P=0.005),5年总生存率分别为79.0%与91.4%(P=0.001),差异均有统计学意义.结论 腹股沟淋巴结体格检查结果和肿瘤分级是腹股沟区域淋巴结转移的独立危险因素.腹股沟淋巴结转移患者5年无病生存率和总生存率较低,对淋巴结转移高危患者,应采取积极治疗措施.     

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen: a role in the early identification of nodal metastases in men with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCAg) measurements may be of use in identifying nodal metastases in patients with SCC of the penis after treating the primary tumour. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The levels of SCCAg were analysed in 11 men with penile SCC between 1994 and 2001. RESULTS: An elevated SCCAg level had a sensitivity of 57% (95% confidence interval, CI, 18-90%) and a specificity of 100% (CI 40-100%) for nodal metastases. Levels of SCCAg increased exponentially in patients who developed nodal metastases after treatment of the primary tumour, and were elevated before clinical or radiological evidence of nodal disease. CONCLUSION: Either the absolute level or the rate of rise of SCCAg may be a useful tool with which to follow patients after excision of the primary tumour. It may be more sensitive than computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in detecting recurrence, but further evaluation is needed.     

Prognostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen and CYFRA21-1 in patients with pathological stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the prognostic value of serum tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CYFRA21-1) in patients with pathologic (p-) stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing complete resection. METHODS: Two hundred and seventy-five patients (163 males, 112 females, mean age 67.1 years) with p-stage I NSCLC who underwent complete resection at our institution between April 1999 and October 2004 were examined. Patients who had received preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy were excluded, as were patients who had multiple malignancies including multiple lung cancer. The serum levels of tumor markers were measured using commercially available immunoassays within 1 month before surgical resection. Serum levels of CEA and CYFRA21-1 higher than 5.0 and 2.8 ng/ml, respectively, were considered as positive according to the manufacture's instructions. RESULTS: The histological classification was adenocarcinoma in 193 patients, squamous cell carcinoma in 71, large cell carcinoma in 5, and other histological type in 6. One hundred and fifty-seven patients had T1 disease and 118 patients had T2 disease. The positive ratio of CEA and CYFRA21-1 was 25.7% and 13.7%, respectively, and in relation to histological type was 27.8% and 7.8% in adenocarcinoma, and 20.6% and 28.4% in squamous cell carcinoma. The overall 5-year survival rate was 79.3%. With a median follow-up of 35.5 month for surviving patients, those with initial CYFRA21-1 serum levels higher than 2.8 ng/ml had a significantly worse prognosis (p=0.0041). Patients with an elevated preoperative CEA level exceeding 5.0 ng/ml had a shorter disease-free survival period (p=0.0003). In patients with adenocarcinoma, a CEA level above 5.0 ng/ml was associated with shorter survival and early recurrence, whereas CYFRA21-1 showed no such association. In patients with squamous cell carcinoma, elevated preoperative CEA was not related to survival and recurrence. In these patients, preoperative CYFRA21-1 level exceeding 2.8 ng/ml was associated with a poorer outcome, whereas preoperative CYFRA21-1 level was not associated with cancer recurrence. CONCLUSION: The patients with p-stage I adenocarcinoma whose preoperative CEA level was high might be considered as good candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy. The prognostic value of CYFRA21-1 could not be confirmed for stage I NSCLC, and preoperative CYFRA21-1 level was not useful in selecting the candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy.     

Mohs micrographic surgery for penile cancer: management and long-term followup

PURPOSE: Mohs micrographic surgery is efficacious for the primary treatment and local recurrence control of nongenital and cutaneous squamous and basal cell cancers. The efficacy of this procedure for squamous cell carcinoma of the penis was reviewed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients treated with Mohs micrographic surgery for penile cancer at our institution from 1988 to 2006. RESULTS: We identified 33 patients who underwent a total of 41 Mohs procedures. Average +/- SD lesion size was 509 +/- 699 mm(2). An average of 2.6 +/- 1.4 stages were done using Mohs micrographic surgery. Five procedures were terminated with positive margins, including 3 due to urethral involvement and 2 due to defect size. Of the tumors 26 were stage Tis, 4 were T1, 7 were T2 and 4 were T3. A total of 13 defects were reconstructed by primary repair or granulation, 4 were reconstructed by skin grafts and 25 were reconstructed by tissue flaps and urethroplasty. Followup data were available on 25 patients at a mean of 58 +/- 63 months. Eight patients (32%) had recurrence, which was managed by repeat Mohs micrographic surgery in 7 and by penectomy in 1. There were 2 cases of tumor progression, including 1 from T1 to T3 disease (meatal involvement) and 1 from T1 to inguinal lymph node involvement. Two patients died, of whom 1 had no evidence of penile cancer and 1 had metastatic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Mohs micrographic surgery for low stage penile cancer results in a relatively high local recurrence rate. However, with repeat procedures and vigilant followup cancer specific and overall survival rates are excellent and progression rates are low.     

Mortality Risk After Preoperative Versus Postoperative Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in Lymph Node-Positive Rectal Cancer

Introduction

Persistent lymph node-positive disease after preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer is associated with adverse outcomes. We quantified mortality risks of persistent pathologic lymph nodes in lymph node-positive rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative versus postoperative chemoradiation.

Methods

This was a retrospective population-based analysis of 2,038 patients with stage III rectal cancer diagnosed 1994–2005 with follow-up through 2007 using data from the California Cancer Registry. Survival estimates were generated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Multivariate cancer-specific and overall mortality analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazard ratios with adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, tumor grade, T stage, N stage, socioeconomic status, and time period (1994–1997, 1998–2001, and 2002–2005).

Results

Overall survival was higher among lymph node-positive patients receiving postoperative chemoradiation compared to lymph node-positive patients receiving preoperative chemoradiation (median overall survival?=?87 versus 62 months, P?=?0.0002). In adjusted analyses, patients with persistent lymph node-positive disease after preoperative chemoradiation treatment had increased overall (HR?=?1.69; 95 % CI, 1.42–2.01) and CRC-specific (HR?=?1.78; 95 % CI, 1.44–2.19) mortality risk compared to lymph node-positive disease after postoperative chemoradiation treatment.

Conclusions

Stage III rectal cancer patients with persistent pathologic lymph nodes after preoperative chemoradiation represent a high-risk group, with higher mortality than those treated with postoperative chemoradiation.     

Clinical usage of the squamous cell carcinoma antigen in patients with penile cancer

BACKGROUND: We present our initial experience with the use of the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen (SCCAg) in 16 men with penile SCC (SCC group), in four men with condyloma acuminatum (benign group), and in 32 blood donors (control group). METHODS: The SCCAg levels were measured at presentation and every 6 months (upper limit was 2 ng/mL). The mean follow-up time was 4 years. RESULTS: All non-SCC patients had normal SSCAg serum levels in contrast with the SCC patients. The presence of nodal and/or distant metastases resulted in statistically significant higher SCCAg levels, both at presentation and during the follow-up. In patients undergoing lymph node dissection with elevated SCCAg levels prior to the procedure, there was a statistically significant decrease of the SCCAg levels after the operation. CONCLUSION: The SCCAg level could be a serum marker that holds promise for clinical use in penile SCC. Sequential monitoring of SCCAg level might indicate developing of nodal and/or distant metastases and could be useful in following the response to treatment.     

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.     

Prognostic significance of preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen level in lung adenocarcinoma but not squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Clinical significance of measurement of preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level in patients with non-small cell lung cancer was investigated. METHODS: Consecutive 271 adenocarcinoma and 112 squamous cell carcinoma patients of non-small cell lung cancer referred to our institute were included in this study. There were 214 men and 169 women, ages ranged from 19 to 90 years, with an average of 64.46 years. Curative resection was performed for 220 adenocarcinoma and 93 squamous cell carcinoma patients. Serum level of CEA was measured before staging or resection of cancer. RESULTS: There is a trend toward a correlation between serum CEA level and stage of the diseases, however, serum CEA level was not always related to tumor node metastasis (TNM) status. In patients with adenocarcinoma, survival rate of patients with an elevated serum CEA level was significantly lower than that with a normal serum CEA level. Multivariate analysis showed that prognostic significance of serum CEA level was TNM staging independent in patients with adenocarcinoma. On the other hand, serum CEA level was not related to patients' survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated preoperative serum CEA level is a TNM staging independent prognostic factor for patients with adenocarcinoma but not for those with squamous cell carcinoma.     

Nomogram predictive of cancer specific survival in patients undergoing partial or total amputation for squamous cell carcinoma of the penis

PURPOSE: We created the first nomograms to predict cancer specific survival probabilities of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis, clustering prognostic information from the most commonly used clinical and pathological variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected clinical and pathological data from 175 patients who had undergone surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the penis from 1980 to 2002 at 11 urological centers in northeastern Italy. A logistic regression model was used to construct the nomogram. RESULTS: At a median followup of 24 months, 101 patients (57.7%) were alive and disease-free while 74 (42.3%) died of penile cancer. According to multivariate analyses, 2 models predictive of cancer specific survival probability were generated. The first model was based on the pathological findings of the primary tumor after penectomy and on the clinical stage of groin lymph nodes, while the second model included the pathological data of the primary tumor and groin lymph nodes. The concordance index was 0.728 for the first model and 0.747 for the second. Calibration appeared to be good in both models. CONCLUSIONS: In this article we propose 2 models to predict the 5-year cancer specific survival probabilities of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. Both models showed good discriminating power and calibration in predicting patient 5-year cancer specific survival. These nomograms could improve the quality of prognostic data provided to patients and support physicians in planning treatment.     

Nomogram predictive of pathological inguinal lymph node involvement in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis

PURPOSE: In penile cancer the therapeutic benefits of early inguinal lymphadenectomy must be counterbalanced by the high rates of morbidity, postoperative complications and mortality. A relevant aim is optimizing the selection of the patients who could really have the highest survival advantage from inguinal lymphadenectomy, limiting the cases in which this surgery might be considered over treatment with a risk of severe complications. We generated a nomogram estimating the risk of pathological inguinal lymph node involvement according to clinical lymph node stage and pathological findings of the primary tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical and pathological data of 175 patients who had undergone surgical therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the penis from 1980 to 2002 at 11 urological centers in northeastern Italy. A logistic regression model was used to construct the nomogram. RESULTS: The presence of palpable groin lymph nodes and the histological findings of vascular and/or lymphatic embolization were important predictors of metastatic inguinal lymph node involvement. The nomogram predicting the risk of metastatic lymph node involvement showed a good concordance index (0.876) and good calibration. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical stage of groin lymph nodes and pathological findings of penectomy specimens allowed us to generate a nomogram to predict the probability of metastatic lymph node involvement in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. The statistical model showed an excellent ability to identify the patients with lymph node metastases and good calibration.