Penile carcinoma is a relatively frequent health issue in the developing countries such as Africa, Asia and South America, usually affecting men aged between 50 and 70 years. It is a highly treatable disease in its early stages, but has serious physical and psychological consequences. Usually, penile carcinoma is located in the penile glans, in approximately half the cases, with the most frequent histological type being squamous cell carcinoma with its microscopic subtypes. A large number of risk factors have been reported for this disease, having a multifactorial etiology, HPV infection being one of the most important factors involved in its appearance. Out of the HPV DNA positive genital cancers HPV-16 is the most frequently found type in men, followed by HPV-18. The evolution of penile cancer includes two independent carcinogenic pathways, related or unrelated to HPV infection. There is limited data available in literature regarding HPV-related neoplasia, as well as on the efficacy of vaccination in men, with studies still ongoing.
Experimental and therapeutic medicine. 2019 Nov 11 [Epub]
Lucian Iorga, Radu Dragos Marcu, Camelia Cristina Diaconu, Ana Maria Alexandra Stanescu, Anca Pantea Stoian, Dan Liviu Dorel Mischianu, Mihaela Surcel, Simona Bungau, Traian Constantin, Daniel Boda, Laszlo Fekete, Ovidiu Gabriel Bratu
Urology Department, Emergency University Central Military Hospital, 010825 Bucharest, Romania., 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania., Immunology Department, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania., Department of Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania., Dermatology Research Laboratory, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania., Dermamed Private Clinic, 211 E60 Targu Mures, Romania.