Penile cancer (PeCa), a rare malignancy, presents a poor prognosis in its advanced stages. The understanding of the biological mediators crucial for the prognosis and therapy of the disease remains limited. A recent review sheds light on the immune micro-environment, molecular oncogenesis, and the significant role of HPV in penile cancer, suggesting the potential for immunotherapy.
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HPV's Role in Penile Cancer: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a well-characterized driver of penile cancer, with up to 50% of penile carcinomas being HPV related. This insight opens avenues for improving prevention, treatment, and follow-up strategies.
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Current and Future Treatments: Immune response modifiers, such as toll-like receptor agonists, are currently used topically for penile intraepithelial neoplasia. Meanwhile, immune checkpoint inhibitors are under clinical investigation for their application in treating penile cancer.
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Clinical Trials and Research: The expanding knowledge of prognosis-relevant biological pathways in penile cancer is leading to the identification of therapeutic targets that could significantly influence the prognosis of advanced penile cancer. Clinical trials are underway to explore immune-modifying treatment modalities.
This research, conducted by Joren Vanthoor, Gigi Vos, and Maarten Albersen from the Department of Urology at University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium, and published in the World Journal of Urology, underscores the importance of continued investigation into immunotherapy as a promising treatment avenue for penile cancer.