Research on penile cancer (PeCa) is predominantly conducted in countries with centralized treatment of PeCa-patients. In Germany and Austria (G + A), no state-regulated centralization is established, and no information is available on how PeCa-research is organized.
Current research competence in PeCa was assessed by a 36-item questionnaire sent to all chairholders of urological academic centers in G + A. Based on PubMed records, all scientific PeCa-articles of 2012-2022 from G + A were identified. Current research trends were assessed by dividing the literature search into two periods (P1: 2012-2017, P2: 2018-2022). A bibliometric analysis was supplemented.
Response rate of the questionnaire was 75%, a median of 13 (IQR: 9-26) PeCa-patients/center was observed in 2021. Retrospective case series were conducted by 38.9% of participating clinics, while involvement in randomized-controlled trials was stated in 8.3% and in basic/fundamental research in 19.4%. 77.8% declared an interest in future multicenter projects. 205 PeCa-articles were identified [median impact factor: 2.77 (IQR: 0.90-4.37)]. Compared to P1, P2 showed a significant increase in the median annual publication count (29 (IQR: 13-17) vs. 15 (IQR: 19-29), p < 0.001), in multicenter studies (79.1% vs. 63.6%, p = 0.018), and in multinational studies (53% vs. 28.9%, p < 0.001); the proportion of basic/fundamental research articles significantly declined (16.5% vs. 28.9%, p = 0.041). Four of the top-5 institutions publishing PeCa-articles are academic centers. Bibliometric analyses revealed author networks, primary research areas in PeCa, and dominant journals for publications.
Given the lack of centralization in G + A, this analysis highlights the need for research coordination within multicenter PeCa-projects. The decline in basic/fundamental research should be effectively addressed by the allocation of funded research projects.
World journal of urology. 2024 Jan 08*** epublish ***
Semih Sarcan, Ingmar Wolff, Lukas Lusuardi, Anton Kravchuk, Jens Wiegland, Abdulbaki Yakac, Christian Thomas, Maximilian Burger, Christian Gilfrich, Steffen Lebentrau, Sascha Ahyai, Axel Merseburger, Matthias May
Department of Urology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany., Department of Urology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany., Department of Urology and Andrology, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria., Department of Urology, St. Elisabeth Hospital Straubing, Brothers of Mercy Hospital, Straubing, Germany., Department of Urology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany., Department of Urology, University of Regensburg, Caritas St. Josef Medical Center, Regensburg, Germany., Department of Urology, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany., Department of Urology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria., Department of Urology, St. Elisabeth Hospital Straubing, Brothers of Mercy Hospital, Straubing, Germany. .