Trends in penile cancer survival rates not improving in US

The incidence of penile cancer in the United States has remained relatively stable from 2000 to 2018, however, an increasing trend in incidence-based mortality (IBM) was seen during the same period, according to a study. In addition, no significant improvement in the 5-year relative survival rate has been seen.

From 2000 to 2004, the 5-year relative survival rate was 67.7%; from 2005 to 2009, the rate was 66.99%; and from 2010-2014 the rate was 65.67%. From 2000 to 2018, there were no significant changes in incidence by era.

From 2000 to 2002 there was an initial significant increase in the IBM rate of penile cancer before the rate decreased by 4.6% from 2002 to 2018. There was no significant improvement in 5-year relative survival.

“These results might be due to the lack of significant progress in the treatment and management of penile cancer patients in the United States in recent decades. More efforts, like increasing awareness among the general population and doctors, and centralized management, might be needed in the future to improve the survival of this rare disease,” the authors concluded.

Reference
Deng X, Liu Y, Zhan X, et al. Trends in Incidence, Mortality, and Survival of Penile Cancer in the United States: A Population-Based Study. Front Oncol. 2022;12:891623. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.891623. PMID: 35785206; PMCID: PMC9248743.