Biomarker Discovery in Penile Cancer

摘要

The biological horizons of penile cancer (PeScc) are broadening through improved understanding of the molecular changes that drive carcinogenesis and tumor progression in this rare tumor type. Biomarker discovery in PeScc has traditionally focused on the molecular changes incurred by integrating human papillomavirus (HPV) into cells that drives tumor formation in approximately 40% to 50% of cases.1 However, contemporary research may isolate new biomarkers that can detect specific alterations in penile cancer cells to predict the patients most likely to respond to drug therapy or to help monitor treatment efficacy. Furthermore, these studies can help isolate novel therapeutic targets and increase the armamentarium available to urologists and oncologists treating PeScc.