The prognostic significance of primary tumor size in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis

Kai Li,Guang Wu,Caibin Fan,Hexing Yuan

doi:10.1007/s12672-021-00416-7

Abstract

BackgroundTo evaluate the association of primary tumor size with clinicopathologic characteristics and survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis (SCCP).MethodsThis study analyzed the data of 1001 patients with SCCP, obtained from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2014. The Kaplan–Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the effects of primary tumor size on overall survival (OS) and penile carcinoma-specific survival (PCSS).ResultsAdvanced T stage (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001) and distant metastasis (P = 0.001) were more frequently associated with SCCP patients with tumor size ≥ 3 cm than those with tumor size < 3 cm. In Kaplan–Meier analyses, the patients with large tumors (≥ 3 cm) exhibited an inferior OS and PCSS than those with small tumors (< 3 cm). Moreover, tumor size was identified to be an independent prognostic factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR) 1.665, P < 0.001] and PCSS (HR 2.076, P = 0.003) of patients with SCCP in multivariate analyses.ConclusionsLarge tumor size is associated with adverse clinicopathological characteristics of patients with SCCP. Besides, tumor size represents an independent prognostic factor for OS and PCSS. Therefore, clinical assessment of tumor size as a crucial prognostic factor might be highly beneficial for early intervention in patients with SCCP.

Highlights

Penile carcinoma is a relatively rare malignancy, with incidence varying from country to country (Fig. 1) [1, 2]
The etiology of penile carcinoma is multifactorial; the incidence of penile carcinoma is high in regions with a high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV), and approximately one-third of cases can be attributed to HPV infection [3]
Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-registered database, the present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between primary tumor size and clinicopathologic characteristics and survival of men with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis (SCCP)

Summary

Introduction

Penile carcinoma is a relatively rare malignancy, with incidence varying from country to country (Fig. 1) [1, 2]. Squamous cell carcinoma of the penis (SCCP) is the predominant histological type of penile carcinomas [6, 7] It usually occurs in men between the ages of 50 and 70 years [8]. To evaluate the association of primary tumor size with clinicopathologic characteristics and survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis (SCCP). The Kaplan–Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the effects of primary tumor size on overall survival (OS) and penile carcinoma-specific survival (PCSS). Tumor size was identified to be an independent prognostic factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR) 1.665, P < 0.001] and PCSS (HR 2.076, P = 0.003) of patients with SCCP in multivariate analyses.

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion