An alternative to surgery for penile cancer is radiation therapy which is administered with external beam techniques and/or brachytherapy (BT) either interstitial or using a surface applicator. Here we report our experience in penile cancer patients treated with high-dose-rate (HDR)-BT with the surface technique, analyzing dosimetric parameters and clinical outcomes.
Between June 2016 and December 2019, 7 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the penis received HDR-BT by means of customized applicators that were constructed using a 3D printer or thermoplastic mask. The total dose was 57 Gy in 19 fractions.
Median clinical target volume percentage receiving 95%, 125%, and 150% of the prescribed dose were 93.1% (range 92.2-98.5), 12% (range 7.4-32.2), and 0.24% (range 0-10.8), respectively. Median urethral volumes receiving 90% and 115% of the prescribed dose were 40.2% (range 21.0-83.8) and 0% (range 0-1), respectively. All patients achieved complete remission. No patient developed G3 or G4 acute or late toxicities. No patient experienced urethral stenosis.
Surface HDR-BT in penile cancer is feasible and is associated with a high tolerance profile and good outcomes.
Brachytherapy. 2021 May 13 [Epub ahead of print]
Simonetta Saldi, Claudio Zucchetti, Christian Paolo Luca Fulcheri, Stefano Saccia, Emanuele Alì, Simona Marani, Gianluca Ingrosso, Cynthia Aristei
Section of Radiation Oncology, Perugia General Hospital, Perugia, Italy. Electronic address: ., Medical Physics, Perugia General Hospital, Perugia, Italy., Section of Radiation Oncology, Perugia General Hospital, Perugia, Italy., Radiation Oncology, Department of Surgical and Biomedical Science, University of Perugia and Perugia General Hospital, Perugia, Italy.