F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography with Computed Tomography Has High Diagnostic Value for Pelvic and Distant Staging in Patients with High-risk Penile Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

For penile cancer patients with pelvic metastases, multimodal treatment is advised, but pelvic lymph node metastases are often found upon surgical resection only. Early selection for multimodal treatment requires reliable noninvasive staging.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the diagnostic value of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) for staging pelvic lymph nodes and distant metastases in high-risk penile cancer patients.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

FDG-PET/CT scans performed in patients with clinically overt inguinal lymph node metastases and/or high-risk primary tumors (bulky T3 or T4) were retrospectively analyzed.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

All scans were reviewed by two independent nuclear medicine physicians staging the pelvic nodes and distant metastases. FDG-PET/CT findings were compared with histology after node dissection if available, or with positive imaging or follow-up of at least 1 yr.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Between 2006 and 2016, 61 patients met the inclusion criteria. For staging of pelvic nodes, sensitivity was 85% (specificity 75%, negative predictive value [NPV] 90%, and positive predictive value [PPV] 65%). For the detection of distant metastases, FDG-PET/CT had a PPV of 93%. Results are limited by the retrospective design and the lack of direct comparison with CT scanning alone.

CONCLUSIONS

FDG-PET/CT has high sensitivity and a high NPV for staging of pelvic lymph nodes in high-risk penile cancer. It also has a high PPV for the detection of distant metastases, which were found in 23% of patients. Therefore, FDG-PET/CT enables early selection for multimodal treatment of patients with pelvic metastases and may help avoid futile treatment of patients with distant metastases.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We studied whether positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET/CT) scans in patients with advanced penile cancer can detect metastases before lymph node surgery is done. PET/CT scans can detect or rule out pelvic lymph node metastases, and can detect distant metastases. This helps in making timely treatment decisions (before surgery).

Clinical Outcomes of Perioperative Chemotherapy in Patients With Locally Advanced Penile Squamous-Cell Carcinoma: Results of a Multicenter Analysis

BACKGROUND

The prognosis of patients with locally advanced penile squamous-cell carcinoma is primarily related to the extent of lymph node metastases. Surgery alone yields suboptimal results, and there is a paucity of data on these patients' outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated patients who received neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy from 1990 onward at 12 centers. Cox models were used to investigate prognostic factors for relapse-free survival and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Among the 201 included patients, 39 (19.4%) had disease of T3-4 and N0 clinical stage; the remaining patients had clinical lymph node involvement (cN+). Ninety-four patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (group 1), 78 received adjuvant chemotherapy (group 2), and 21 received both (group 3). Eight patients for whom the timing of perioperative chemotherapy administration was unavailable were included in the Cox analyses. Forty-three patients (21.4%) received chemoradiation. Multivariate analysis for OS (n = 172) revealed bilateral disease (P = .035) as a negative prognostic factor, while pelvic cN+ tended to be nonsignificantly associated with decreased OS (P = .076). One-year relapse-free survival was 35.6%, 60.6%, and 45.1% in the 3 groups, respectively. One-year OS was 61.3%, 82.2%, and 75%, respectively. No significant differences were seen on univariable analyses for OS between the groups (P = .45). Platinum type of chemotherapy and chemoradiation were not significantly associated with any outcome analyzed.

CONCLUSION

Benchmark survival estimates for patients receiving perioperative chemotherapy for locally advanced penile squamous-cell carcinoma have been provided, with no substantial differences observed between neoadjuvant and adjuvant administration. This analysis may result in improved patient information, although prospective studies are warranted.

Expression of Programmed Death Ligand 1 in Penile Cancer is of Prognostic Value and Associated with HPV Status

PURPOSE

PD-L1 (programmed death ligand 1) inhibits T-cell function and prevents tumor eradication. This is facilitated by PD-L1 positive tumor cells and PD-L1 positive immune cells, and can be prevented by anti-PD-1 (programmed death 1)/PD-L1 immunotherapy. In advanced penile cancer there is a need for new therapeutic strategies. We investigated PD-L1 expression in penile cancers and compared PD-L1 expression with disease specific survival, lymph node metastases at diagnosis and high risk HPV status in a large patient cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 213 primary tumors were immunohistochemically stained for PD-L1 and scored for tumor (percentage), stroma (binary) and PD-L1 positive tumor infiltrating macrophages. Additionally, PD-L1 positive tumors were scored for expression pattern, that is diffuse or predominantly present at the tumor-stroma margin.

RESULTS

Staining was successful in 200 tumors, of which 75% were high risk HPV negative. Median followup was 62 months. Of 200 tumors 96 (48%) were PD-L1 positive (scored 1% or greater), of which 59 (62%) had a marginal expression pattern and 79 (82%) were high risk HPV negative (p = 0.03). Compared to PD-L1 negative tumors, the PD-L1 expression patterns had different prognostic values in the whole cohort as well as in the high risk HPV negative subgroup. On multivariable analyses a marginal expression pattern was associated with absent lymph node metastases (OR 0.4) while diffuse expression was associated with poor survival (HR 2.58). These results were more prominent in the high risk HPV negative subgroup (OR 0.25, HR 3.92).

CONCLUSIONS

PD-L1 was expressed in 48% of penile carcinomas and mainly in high risk HPV negative tumors. The pattern of expression was a prognostic factor as marginal expression was associated with absent lymph node metastases and diffuse expression was associated with poor survival.

Predicting postoperative complications of inguinal lymph node dissection for penile cancer in an international multicentre cohort

OBJECTIVES

To assess the potential complications associated with inguinal lymph node dissection (ILND) across international tertiary care referral centres, and to determine the prognostic factors that best predict the development of these complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective chart review was conducted across four international cancer centres. The study population of 327 patients underwent diagnostic/therapeutic ILND. The endpoint was the overall incidence of complications and their respective severity (major/minor). The Clavien-Dindo classification system was used to standardize the reporting of complications.

RESULTS

A total of 181 patients (55.4%) had a postoperative complication, with minor complications in 119 cases (65.7%) and major in 62 (34.3%). The total number of lymph nodes removed was an independent predictor of experiencing any complication, while the median number of lymph nodes removed was an independent predictor of major complications. The American Joint Committee on Cancer stage was an independent predictor of all wound infections, while the patient's age, ILND with Sartorius flap transposition, and surgery performed before the year 2008 were independent predictors of major wound infections.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the largest report of complication rates after ILND for squamous cell carcinoma of the penis and it shows that the majority of complications associated with ILND are minor and resolve without prolonged morbidity. Variables pertaining to the extent of disease burden have been found to be prognostic of increased postoperative morbidity.

Penile cancer stage, survival and body mass index

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether a higher body mass index (BMI) in penile cancer patients is associated with more advanced penile cancer stage at the time of treatment and cancer survival.

METHODS

We evaluated 433 penile cancer patients treated between 2006 and 2012 at our institute and recorded American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, BMI, circumcision, smoking and age. A proportional odds model was used to assess a possible association between BMI and AJCC stage at diagnosis and controlled for circumcision, smoking and age. Five-year disease-specific survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, with the log-rank test assessing equality of distributions.

RESULTS

433 patients with a mean BMI of 26.8 kg/m2 were analyzed. No statistically significant association between BMI and AJCC stage was found (odds ratio 1.01 per 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI, 95% confidence interval 0.97-1.05, p=0.63). Differences in disease-specific survival were not observed based on the different BMI classes.

CONCLUSIONS

No association between BMI of penile cancer patients and their disease stage at the time of treatment was observed. Thus, BMI at penile cancer treatment does not affect prognosis.

Human papillomavirus prevalence in invasive penile cancer and association with clinical outcome

PURPOSE

The incidence of penile cancer is increasing, and is suggested to be explained by changes in sexual practice and increased exposure of men to sexually transmitted high risk human papillomavirus infection. In penile cancers from a Dutch population treated in 1963 to 2001 we found a high risk human papillomavirus prevalence of about 30%. In this study we assessed the prevalence of high risk human papillomavirus-DNA in a more recent, contemporary penile cancer cohort and its association with patient survival.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

High risk human papillomavirus-DNA presence was assessed by GP5+6+ polymerase chain reaction in 212 formalin fixed, paraffin embedded invasive penile tumor specimens of patients treated between 2001 and 2009. The 5-year disease specific survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method with the log rank test and Cox regression.

RESULTS

High risk human papillomavirus-DNA was detected in a subset of penile cancer cases (25%, 95% CI 19-31). HPV16 was the predominant type, representing 79% (42 of 53) of all high risk human papillomavirus infections. The 5-year disease specific survival in the high risk human papillomavirus negative group and the high risk human papillomavirus positive group was 82% and 96%, respectively (log rank test p=0.016). Adjusted for stage, grade, lymphovascular invasion and age, human papillomavirus status was still prognostic for disease specific survival (p=0.030) with a hazard ratio of 0.2 (95% CI 0.1-0.9).

CONCLUSIONS

High risk human papillomavirus-DNA was observed in a quarter of penile cancer cases. No relevant increase in high risk human papillomavirus prevalence in recent decades was observed. The presence of high risk human papillomavirus-DNA in penile cancer confers a survival advantage.

Quality of life for patients treated for penile cancer

PURPOSE

We assessed the impact of primary surgery, including penile sparing surgery vs (partial) penectomy and lymphadenectomy, on sexuality and health related quality of life.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We invited 147 patients surgically treated for penile cancer at our institution between 2003 and 2008 to complete the IIEF-15, SF-36®, IOC (version 2) and questions on urinary function. We evaluated the impact of primary surgery type and lymphadenectomy on these outcomes. We also compared patient SF-36 scores with those of an age and gender matched normative sample from the general Dutch population.

RESULTS

A total of 90 patients (62%) returned a completed questionnaire. Surgery type and extent were not associated significantly with most of the study outcomes assessed. However, men who underwent (partial) penectomy reported significantly more problems than those treated with penile sparing surgery, including orgasm (effect size 0.54, p = 0.031), appearance concerns (effect size 0.61, p = 0.008), life interference (effect size 0.49, p = 0.032) and urinary function (83% vs 43%, p <0.0001). Men who underwent lymphadenectomy reported significantly more life interference (effect size 0.50, p = 0.037). The patient sample scored significantly better than the normative sample on the SF-36 physical component (p = 0.044) and the bodily pain subscale (p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Few differences were observed in sexuality and health related quality of life as a function of primary surgery and lymphadenectomy. However, (partial) penectomy and lymphadenectomy were associated with more problems with orgasm, body image, life interference and urination. Additional longitudinal studies are warranted to evaluate individual changes with time in these outcomes.

Ultrasound examination and fine needle aspiration cytology-useful for followup of the regional nodes in penile cancer?

PURPOSE

Routine followup of the groins of patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma after primary treatment consists of physical examination together with ultrasound of the groins, followed by fine needle aspiration cytology if suspicious. We assessed the value of this routine followup.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using ultrasound and fine needle aspiration cytology we assessed 247 patients during followup who were treated from 2004 to 2010 and underwent dynamic sentinel node biopsy only or observation of the inguinal regions. A negative result was defined as no evidence of metastatic disease after at least 2 years of followup. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of ultrasound and ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology using standard statistical methods.

RESULTS

Recurrence was diagnosed in 47 of 247 patients (55 groins). In 40 of 55 groins (73%) recurrence was detectable by physical examination. In 12 of 15 cases of nonpalpable recurrence (80%) ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology revealed the recurrence. We considered 217 groins to be suspicious on ultrasound followed by fine needle aspiration cytology. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed tumor in 49 groins and showed false-positive findings in 1 patient after negative completion lymphadenectomy. Sensitivity and specificity were 87.3% (48 of 55 cases) and 99.9% (1,304 of 1,305), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Although inguinal recurrence manifests clinically in most patients, ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration cytology detected 80% of metastatic disease in patients with nonpalpable disease. Therefore, it has great value for detecting lymph node metastases during followup.

Contemporary management of regional nodes in penile cancer-improvement of survival?

PURPOSE

The management of regional nodes of penile squamous cell carcinoma has changed with time due to improved knowledge about diagnosis and treatment. To determine whether changes in the treatment of regional nodes have improved survival, we compared contemporary 5-year cancer specific survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis with that of patients in previous cohorts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In an observational cohort study of 1,000 patients treated during 56 years 944 were eligible for analysis. Tumors were staged according to the 2009 TNM classification, and patients were divided into 4 cohorts of 1956 to 1987, 1988 to 1993, 1994 to 2000 and 2001 to 2012, reflecting changes in clinical practice regarding regional nodes. Kaplan-Meier survival curves with the log rank test and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to examine trends in 5-year cancer specific survival.

RESULTS

The 5-year cancer specific survival of patients with cN0 disease treated between 2001 and 2012 was 92% compared to 89% (1994 to 2000), 78% (1988 to 1993) and 85% (1956 to 1987). The 5-year cancer specific survival improved significantly since 1994, the year dynamic sentinel node biopsy was introduced, at 91% (1994 to 2012) vs 82% (1956 to 1993) (p = 0.021). This conclusion still holds after adjustment for pathological T stage and grade of differentiation (HR 2.46, p = 0.01). Extranodal extension, number of tumor positive nodes and pelvic involvement in node positive (pN+) cases were associated with worse 5-year cancer specific survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite less surgery being performed on regional nodes, 5-year cancer specific survival has improved in patients with cN0 disease. The number of tumor positive nodes, extranodal extension and pelvic involvement were highly associated with worse cancer specific survival in patients with pN+ disease. In this group other treatment strategies are needed as no improvement was observed.