NEW RESEARCH has emerged that analyses outcomes in males over and under 50 years of age with penile cancer, combatting the gap in literature for documenting the comparison of oncological outcomes in young and older cohorts.
A retrospective analysis of males younger than 50 years with penile squamous cell carcinoma at a tertiary centre was performed, using a propensity score matched cohort of males older than 50 years for comparison. Matching was completed according to tumour, nodal stage, and type of primary surgery.
Overall survival, disease-specific survival, recurrence-free survival, and metastasis-free survival were estimated using Kaplan–Meier plots, and compared using log-rank tests. Between 2005–2020, 100 males ≤50 years (median age: 46 years) were identified, and matched with 100 males >50 years (median age: 65 years). Of these 10, 24, 32, and 34 men aged ≤50 years were diagnosed between 2005–2007, 2008–2012, 2013–2016, and 2017–2020, respectively. The research found no statistical significance in disease-specific survival, recurrence-free-survival, and metastasis-free survival between males aged ≤50 and >50 years.
The researchers noted, based on their results, that the number of males aged ≤50 years diagnosed with penile squamous cell carcinoma has increased over the past 15 years. Although the findings were similar when comparing the groups, and overall survival was higher in the younger cohort, penile cancer is equally fatal in both groups. This investigation highlights the importance of public awareness and patient education for disease prevention, early detection, and management in the near future.
