The risk factors for the presence of pelvic lymph node metastasis in penile squamous cell carcinoma patients with inguinal lymph node dissection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors in penile squamous cell carcinoma predictive of pelvic lymph node metastasis and survival.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected and analyzed retrospectively in 146 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of penis who underwent bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection in our center between January 1998 and April 2011. Variables recorded included serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen, primary tumor p53 immunoreactivity, histological grade, pathological tumor stage, lymphatic or vascular invasion, absent/unilateral or bilateral inguinal lymph node involvement, number of metastatic inguinal lymph nodes, presence of extracapsular growth and lymph node density.

RESULTS: Seventy patients had inguinal lymph node metastasis (LNM). Of these, 33 (47.1%) had pelvic LNM. Primary tumor strong p53 expression, lymphatic or vascular invasion, involvement of more than two inguinal lymph nodes and 30% or greater lymph node density were significant predictors of pelvic LNM. Primary tumor strong p53 expression (odds ratio [OR] 5.997, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.615-22.275), presence of extracapsular growth (OR 2.209, 95% CI 1.166-4.184), involvement of more than two inguinal lymph nodes (OR 2.494, 95% CI 1.086-5.728) and pelvic lymph node involvement (OR 18.206, 95% CI 6.807-48.696) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS: Primary tumor expression of p53, lymphatic or vascular invasion, number of metastatic inguinal lymph nodes and lymph node density were all predictors of pathologic pelvic lymph node involvement. Patients with pelvic LNM had an adverse prognosis, with a 3-year overall survival rate of approximately 12.1%. Pelvic lymph node dissection should be considered in these cases.