[The current state of the art of chemotherapy of penile cancer: results of a nationwide survey of German clinics].

Introduction: The prognosis for advanced penile carcinomas is extremely poor. Due to the low response rates and relevant side effects of current chemotherapy regimens, several attempts have been made to improve chemotherapy in recent years. In a retrospective survey the current state of the art of chemotherapy for penile carcinoma in Germany was analysed.

Methods: The study took the form of a retrospective survey among all urological departments in Germany. The questionnaire contained seven questions concerning indications and modalities for chemotherapy of penile carcinoma in addition to general questions.

Results: Out of 280 departments 129 (46%) returned an answered questionnaire. Chemotherapy was reported to be carried out by 91 of the answering departments and overall 18 different chemotherapy regimens were used. The regimens cisplatin/methotrexate/bleomycin, vinblastin/methotrexate/bleomycin and cisplatin/5FU were the most frequently reported. Chemotherapy was carried out on average 2.3 times per year per department. The majority of the departments reported response rates under 30%. Finally 101 of the answering departments confirmed the necessity of new chemotherapy regimens.

Conclusions: The current state of the art for chemotherapy of penile carcinoma showed a very large variation in Germany. The response rates were disappointing. A nationwide study with new chemotherapy approaches is urgently needed (information under www.uni-rostock.de/peniskarzinom).