EGFR INHIBITORS IN PENIS CANCER

BJU Int. 2013 Sep 5. doi: 10.1111/bju.12450. [Epub ahead of print]

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Targeted Therapy in Locally Advanced or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Penis.

Carthon BC, Ng CS, Pettaway CA, Pagliaro LC.

Source

Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy in patients with advanced penile or scrotal cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed charts of patients with penile or scrotal squamous cell carcinoma who had visited our tertiary cancer center from 2002 through 2009, including their subsequent treatment and follow-up. We collected details of EGFR-targeted therapy and clinical outcomes. Treatment-associated time to disease progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), responses to therapy, and toxicity were evaluated.

RESULTS:

Twenty-four patients had received EGFR-targeted therapies, including cetuximab, erlotinib, and gefitinib. The most common treatment given (67% of patients) was cetuximab combined with one or more cytotoxic drugs. The most common adverse effect was skin rash (71%); median TTP and OS were 11.3 weeks (1-40 weeks) and 29.6 weeks (2-205 weeks), respectively. OS for patients with visceral or bone metastases was significantly less than it was for those without (24.7 weeks vs. 49.9 weeks, P = .013). Among 17 patients treated with cetuximab alone or in combination with cisplatin, there were four partial responses (23.5%) including two patients with seemingly chemo-resistant tumor.

CONCLUSION:

Our results suggest that cetuximab has antitumor activity in metastatic penile cancer, and may enhance the effect of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Prospective studies of EGFR-targeted therapies in men with these tumors are warranted.