Section editor
Ali Raza Khaki, MD
Stanford University
Palo Alto, CA, USA

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Last updated on 2024-07-23:
9 regimens on this page
10 variants on this page


Guidelines

Given the rapid change in evidence in many areas of hematology/oncology, readers are encouraged to consider any guideline published 5+ years ago to be for historical purposes, only.




Neoadjuvant chemotherapy

TIP

TIP: Taxol (Paclitaxel), Ifosfamide, Platinol (Cisplatin)

Regimen

Study Dates of enrollment Evidence
Pagliaro et al. 2010 (MDACC ID99-194) 2000-04 to 2008-09 Phase 2

Note: cycle was repeated on day 22 if the patient's ANC was at least 1400/μL and platelet count was at least 100 x 109/L. Some guidelines state that it is reasonable to give adjuvant TIP if it was not given preoperatively and pathology shows high-risk features, or to give first-line TIP in the metastatic setting; to our knowledge, there are no primary references to support this practice.

Chemotherapy

  • Paclitaxel (Taxol) 175 mg/m2 IV over 3 hours once on day 1
  • Ifosfamide (Ifex) 1200 mg/m2 IV over 2 hours once per day on days 1 to 3
  • Cisplatin (Platinol) 25 mg/m2 IV over 2 hours once per day on days 1 to 3
    • Administered intravenously in 250 mL of normal saline containing 12.5 g of mannitol

Supportive therapy

  • Mesna (Mesnex) 400 mg/m2 IV once per day on days 1 to 3, prior to each dose of ifosfamide, then 200 mg/m2 IV twice per day on days 1 to 3, at 4 and 8 hours after each dose of ifosfamide
  • hydration with 3 liters of a solution of 5% dextrose, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, and mannitol, given after cisplatin
  • One of the following dexamethasone doses:
  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 50 mg IV once on day 1, prior to paclitaxel
  • One of the following H2 blockers:
  • "The use of prophylactic G-CSF was allowed but not required"

21- to 28-day cycle for 4 cycles

Subsequent treatment

References

  1. MDACC ID99-194: Pagliaro LC, Williams DL, Daliani D, Williams MB, Osai W, Kincaid M, Wen S, Thall PF, Pettaway CA. Neoadjuvant paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin chemotherapy for metastatic penile cancer: a phase II study. J Clin Oncol. 2010 Aug 20;28(24):3851-7. Epub 2010 Jul 12. link to original article dosing details in manuscript have been reviewed by our editors link to PMC article PubMed NCT00512096


VBM (Vincristine)

VBM: Vincristine, Bleomycin, Methotrexate

Regimen

Study Dates of enrollment Evidence
Pizzocaro et al. 1988 1979-1985 Pilot, fewer than 20 pts

Note: this is of historic interest given the toxicity of bleomycin-containing regimens.

Preceding treatment

Chemotherapy

7-day cycle for 12 cycles

Subsequent treatment

References

  1. Pizzocaro G, Piva L. Adjuvant and neoadjuvant vincristine, bleomycin, and methotrexate for inguinal metastases from squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. Acta Oncol. 1988;27(6b):823-4. link to original article dosing details in manuscript have been reviewed by our editors PubMed
  2. Review: Pagliaro LC, Crook J. Multimodality therapy in penile cancer: when and which treatments? World J Urol. 2009 Apr;27(2):221-5. Epub 2008 Aug 6. link to original article dosing details in manuscript have been reviewed by our editors link to PMC article PubMed


Adjuvant chemotherapy

DCF

DCF: Docetaxel, Cisplatin, Fluorouracil

Regimen

Study Evidence
Necchi et al. 2011 Case report

Preceding treatment

Chemotherapy

21-day cycle for 3 cycles

References

  1. Case report: Necchi A, Nicolai N, Colecchia M, Catanzaro M, Torelli T, Piva L, Salvioni R. Proof of activity of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapy for relapsed squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. J Clin Oncol. 2011 Aug 1;29(22):e650-2. Epub 2011 May 31. link to original article dosing details in manuscript have been reviewed by our editors PubMed


Metastatic or unresectable disease

BMP

BMP: Bleomycin, Methotrexate, Platinol (Cisplatin)
MPB: Methotrexate, Platinol (Cisplatin), Bleomycin

Regimen variant #1

Study Dates of enrollment Evidence
Haas et al. 1999 (SWOG 8520) 1986-1994 Phase 2

Note: This is likely of historic interest due to the toxicity of bleomycin-containing regimens. Bleomycin was discontinued when a total cumulative dose of 200 units/m2 was reached.

Chemotherapy

Supportive therapy

  • Normal saline IV at 250 mL/hour, starting 1 hour prior to cisplatin and continued for at least 6 hours after completion of cisplatin
  • Furosemide (Lasix) 40 mg IV once on day 1, given prior to cisplatin

21-day cycles (patients who achieved CR discontinued therapy after 6 cycles)


Regimen variant #2

Study Dates of enrollment Evidence
Corral et al. 1998 1988-03 to 1994-01 Phase 2

Note: 21 of 29 evaluable patients in Corral et al. 1998 had penile cancer. Please see the paper for additional variations in the protocol, including some patients being treated with intraarterial therapy. This is likely of historic interest due to the toxicity of bleomycin-containing regimens.

Chemotherapy

  • Bleomycin (Blenoxane) 10 mg/m2 IV once per day on days 2 to 6
    • Note: Pagliaro et al. 2009 lists a "dosage of 50 mg/m2 on days 2 to 6," which could be misinterpreted as 50 mg/m2 for each dose, which is in contrast to the 50 mg/m2 for each cycle that Corral et al. 1998 describes.
  • Methotrexate (MTX) 200 mg/m2 IV once per day on days 1, 15, 22
  • Cisplatin (Platinol) 20 mg/m2 IV over 3 hours once per day on days 2 to 6
    • Note: Corral et al. 1998 does not specify which days cisplatin is given on. Pagliaro et al. 2009 specifies that cisplatin is given on days 2 to 6. For Corral et al. 1998, the 5 day course is inferred based on the paper saying that the total dosage--presumably per cycle--was 100 mg/m2.

Supportive therapy

  • Leucovorin (Folinic acid) 25 mg PO every 6 hours on days 2 to 4, 16 to 18, 23 to 25, starting 24 hours after each dose of methotrexate

28-day cycles

References

  1. Corral DA, Sella A, Pettaway CA, Amato RJ, Jones DM, Ellerhorst J. Combination chemotherapy for metastatic or locally advanced genitourinary squamous cell carcinoma: a phase II study of methotrexate, cisplatin and bleomycin. J Urol. 1998 Nov;160(5):1770-4. link to original article dosing details in manuscript have been reviewed by our editors PubMed
  2. SWOG 8520: Haas GP, Blumenstein BA, Gagliano RG, Russell CA, Rivkin SE, Culkin DJ, Wolf M, Crawford ED. Cisplatin, methotrexate and bleomycin for the treatment of carcinoma of the penis: a Southwest Oncology Group study. J Urol. 1999 Jun;161(6):1823-5. link to original article dosing details in manuscript have been reviewed by our editors PubMed content property of HemOnc.org
  3. Review: Pagliaro LC, Crook J. Multimodality therapy in penile cancer: when and which treatments? World J Urol. 2009 Apr;27(2):221-5. Epub 2008 Aug 6. link to original article dosing details in manuscript have been reviewed by our editors link to PMC article PubMed


Cisplatin & Fluorouracil (CF)

Regimen

Study Dates of enrollment Evidence
Shammas et al. 1992 1985-1990 Pilot, fewer than 20 pts

Chemotherapy

21- to 28-day cycle for at least 2 cycles

References

  1. Shammas FV, Ous S, Fossa SD. Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in advanced cancer of the penis. J Urol. 1992 Mar;147(3):630-2. link to original article dosing details in manuscript have been reviewed by our editors PubMed


Cisplatin & Irinotecan (IC)

Regimen

Study Dates of enrollment Evidence
Theodore et al. 2008 (EORTC 30992) 2004-05 to 2006-01 Phase 2

Chemotherapy

Supportive therapy

  • Adequate hydration with cisplatin, per guidelines at each investigator's site
  • Antiemetic medication per routine local practice.
  • "Systematic premedication with atropine as of the first cycle of treatment was at the investigator's discretion but was not recommended."

28-day cycles, with up to 4 cycles before surgery in the neoadjuvant setting for T3 or N1 to N2; up to 8 cycles for patients with T4, N3, or M+ distant metastatic disease

References

  1. EORTC 30992: Theodore C, Skoneczna I, Bodrogi I, Leahy M, Kerst JM, Collette L, Ven K, Marréaud S, Oliver RD; EORTC Genito-Urinary Tract Cancer Group. A phase II multicentre study of irinotecan (CPT 11) in combination with cisplatin (CDDP) in metastatic or locally advanced penile carcinoma (EORTC PROTOCOL 30992). Ann Oncol. 2008 Jul;19(7):1304-7. Epub 2008 Apr 15. link to original article dosing details in manuscript have been reviewed by our editors PubMed


Paclitaxel monotherapy

Regimen

Study Dates of enrollment Evidence
Di Lorenzo et al. 2011 2004-04 to 2011-01 Phase 2

Chemotherapy

Supportive therapy

  • G-CSF could be used in later cycles if the patient developed febrile neutropenia during treatment
  • Dexamethasone (Decadron) 8 mg PO given three times, at 12 hours before, immediately before, and 12 hours after paclitaxel

21-day cycles

References

  1. Di Lorenzo G, Federico P, Buonerba C, Longo N, Cartenì G, Autorino R, Perdonà S, Ferro M, Rescigno P, D'Aniello C, Matano E, Altieri V, Palmieri G, Imbimbo C, De Placido S, Mirone V. Paclitaxel in pretreated metastatic penile cancer: final results of a phase 2 study. Eur Urol. 2011 Dec;60(6):1280-4. Epub 2011 Aug 22. link to original article dosing details in manuscript have been reviewed by our editors PubMed


Panitumumab monotherapy

Regimen

Study Evidence
Necchi et al. 2011 Case report

Targeted therapy

14-day cycles

References

  1. Case report: Necchi A, Nicolai N, Colecchia M, Catanzaro M, Torelli T, Piva L, Salvioni R. Proof of activity of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapy for relapsed squamous cell carcinoma of the penis. J Clin Oncol. 2011 Aug 1;29(22):e650-2. Epub 2011 May 31. link to original article dosing details in manuscript have been reviewed by our editors PubMed


PCF

PCF: Paclitaxel, Cisplatin, Fluorouracil

Regimen

Study Dates of enrollment Evidence
Pizzocaro et al. 2009 2004-2006 Pilot, fewer than 20 pts

Chemotherapy

Supportive therapy

  • "Corticosteroids, antihistamines, and an H2 antagonist were administered before starting paclitaxel"
  • "Antiemetic drugs and glutathione were administered prior to cisplatin"
  • 1 liter half normal 2.5% glucose saline with 20 mEq potassium chloride and 10 mEq magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) IV given twice, before and after cisplatin

21-day cycles; "two patients received more than the standard four courses"

References

  1. Pizzocaro G, Nicolai N, Milani A. Taxanes in combination with cisplatin and fluorouracil for advanced penile cancer: preliminary results. Eur Urol. 2009 Mar;55(3):546-51. Epub 2008 Jul 14. link to original article PubMed