ABSTRACT
Germ-cell tumours (GCT) of the testis and penile squamous cell carcinoma (PeSCC) are a rare and a very rare uro-genital cancers, respectively. Both tumours are well defined entities in terms of management, where specific recommendations - in the form of continuously up-to-dated guide lines-are provided. Impact of these tumour is relevant. Testicular GCT affects young, healthy men at the beginning of their adult life. PeSCC affects older men, but a proportion of these patients are young and the personal consequences of the disease may be devastating. Deviation from recommended management may be a reason of a significant prognostic worsening, as proper treatment favourably impacts on these tumours, dramatically on GCT and significantly on PeSCC. RARECAREnet data may permit to analyse how survivals may vary according to geographical areas, histology and age, leading to assume that non-homogeneous health-care resources may impact the cure and definitive outcomes. In support of this hypothesis, some epidemiologic datasets and clinical findings would indicate that survival may improve when appropriate treatments are delivered, linked to a different accessibility to the best health institutions, as a consequence of geographical, cultural and economic barriers. Finally, strong clues based on epidemiological and clinical data support the hypothesis that treatment delivered at reference centres or under the aegis of a qualified multi-institutional network is associated with a better prognosis of patients with these malignancies. The ERN EURACAN represents the best current European effort to answer this clinical need.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/therapy , Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/therapy , Penile Neoplasms/therapy , Testicular Neoplasms/therapy , Cancer Care Facilities , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/secondary , Europe , Humans , Lymph Node Excision , Lymphatic Metastasis , Male , Neoplasm Staging , Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/diagnosis , Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal/secondary , Penile Neoplasms/diagnosis , Penile Neoplasms/pathology , Rare Diseases/diagnosis , Rare Diseases/pathology , Rare Diseases/therapy , Referral and Consultation , Survival Rate , Testicular Neoplasms/diagnosis , Testicular Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Different approaches have been described in published studies for carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the glans penis (erythroplasia of Queyrat), including topical chemotherapy or immunotherapy and laser or surgical excision. We evaluated the efficacy of topical imiquimod (IQ) followed by carbon dioxide laser ablation of the lesion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2010 to 2015, 10 patients affected by CIS of the glans were treated by IQ, followed by carbon dioxide laser ablation. For every patient, we performed histologic examination before and after IQ. Local toxicity and adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: After treatment, histologic examination showed no residual tumor in 6 patients (complete response [CR]), stable disease in 2 patients, and progressive disease in 2 patients. Those with a CR had human papillomavirus-related lesions, and they had no experienced relapses after a mean follow-up of 26 months. The 2 patients with progressive disease underwent total penectomy. All patients were alive at the last follow-up examination. All patients experienced a mild local toxicity (burning erythema) but no major adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Local treatment with IQ for glans CIS is effective mainly for human papillomavirus-related lesions. The present study is the first to record the histologic examination findings before and after IQ treatment. The small number of patients, owing to the rarity of this disease, was the main limitation of the present study. IQ must be used carefully, and a close follow-up protocol is mandatory because of the lack of long-term efficacy data.
