Outcomes of penile sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma from a single tertiary referral centre: a matched cohort study

Objective: To report the oncological survival outcomes of men with penile sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma (sSCC).

Patients and methods: A retrospective analysis of men with penile sSCC diagnosed between January 2010 and January 2020 in a single centre was conducted. Disease-specific (DSS), recurrence-free (RFS) and metastasis-free (MFS) survival were evaluated. Outcomes were compared with a non-sarcomatoid penile SCC cohort matched to age, type of surgery and tumour stage. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to estimate survival outcomes.

Results: In all, 1286 men were diagnosed with penile SCC during the study period and of these 38 (3%) men had sSCC. The median (interquartile range) age and follow-up was 70 (57-81) years and 16 (7-44) months, respectively. Operations performed included: circumcision, one (2.6%); wide local excision, four (10.5%); glansectomy, 11 (29%); partial penectomy, 10 (26%); subtotal/total penectomy, 12 (32%). The Kaplan-Meier estimated 12-, 24- and 36-month DSS was 62% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 67%), 43% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 67%) and 36% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 67%), respectively (P = 0.03). The Kaplan-Meier estimated 12- and 24-month RFS was 47% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 60%) and 28% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 55%), respectively (P = 0.01). The MFS was 52% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 62%) at 12 months and 37% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 57%) at 24 months (P = 0.04).

Conclusions: Sarcomatoid differentiation was associated with a lower DSS, RFS and MFS. Due to the rarity of its incidence and aggressiveness, expert histological review and multidisciplinary management is required in a specialist penile cancer centre.