Stages, Grades and types of penile cancer:
The stage of penile cancer describes the tumor’s size and whether it has spread. Doctors use the TNM system to classify its stage. The “type” indicates the specific cell origin of the cancer, while the “grade” reflects how abnormal the cells look under a microscope. This combined information—stage, type, and grade—guides doctors in planning the most effective treatment for the patient.
Types and grades of penile cancer:
The type of penile cancer depends on the type of cell where the cancer began. Knowing this helps doctors choose the best treatment. For this, a tissue sample (biopsy) is taken and examined by a pathologist in a lab. Different types of penile cancer cells look distinct under a microscope, which helps identify the exact type.
Squamous cell cancer:
More than 95% of penile cancers are squamous cell cancers, making this type the most common form of penile cancer. Squamous cells are thin, flat cells that cover the skin of the penis. These cancers can appear in any part of the penis but are often found on the head of the penis (glans) or the foreskin, particularly in uncircumcised men. Generally, squamous cell cancers develop slowly, sometimes over many years, and may begin as pre-cancerous changes.
When detected early, they are often curable through surgery or other treatments. Verrucous carcinoma is a rare type of squamous cell cancer, resembling a large wart and growing slowly. This type rarely spreads to other areas and is usually treatable with surgery alone, allowing for effective management and cure.
Other types:
The remaining 10% of penile cancers include a few less common types
Sarcoma:
Sarcomas are a type of cancer originating in the body’s connective tissues, such as bone, muscle, fat, and cartilage, which form the body’s structure. Penile sarcomas are extremely rare but are known to grow faster than other types of penile cancer, requiring prompt medical attention due to their potentially aggressive nature.
Basal cell cancer:
Basal cell cancers start in the skin’s deepest layer, where basal cells are found. They mostly develop in sun-exposed areas but can appear elsewhere. These cancers grow very slowly and almost never spread to other parts of the body.
Melanoma:
Melanomas start in pigment-producing skin cells, which give skin its color. While they often appear on skin areas exposed to the sun, they can occasionally develop in places not usually exposed to sunlight.
Adenocarcinoma:
Adenocarcinomas are rare penile cancers that start in the gland cells responsible for producing sweat in the skin. These types of cancers are very uncommon in this area.
Grades of penile cancer:
The grade of a cancer indicates how similar cancer cells are to normal cells, which helps doctors understand how the cancer might behave and the kind of treatment needed.
For squamous cell cancers, graded by the World Health Organization (WHO):
– Grade X: Grade can’t be determined.
– Grade 1 (low grade): Cells closely resemble normal cells, often growing slowly.
– Grade 2: Cells are somewhat abnormal.
– Grade 3 (high grade): Cells look very different, growing more quickly.
– Grade 4: Some very abnormal cancers are termed undifferentiated and may also be called grade 4.