[Dramatic response of penile cancer with inguinal lymph node metastases to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin : a case report].

Carcinoma of the penis is rare, and the prognosis of penile cancer with inguinal metastases is extremely poor. Standard chemotherapy for advanced penile cancer has not been established because of its rarity. A case of penile cancer with inguinal metastases that responded well to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin (TIP) is described. A 55-year-old Japanese male visited our hospital for a penile tumor and fixed, 4 cm, right inguinal lymph nodes. Computed tomography and 18F-FDG-PET imaging showed not only right but also left inguinal lymphadenopathy. Penile cancer (clinical stage T3N3M0, 7th edition TNM classification) was diagnosed, and partial penectomy and right inguinal biopsy were performed. The pathological examination revealed squamous cell carcinoma of the penis with right inguinal lymph node metastasis. The inguinal metastases were judged to be unsuitable for radical resection ; and, paclitaxel 60 mg/m2 (day 1), ifosfamide 1,200 mg/m2 (days 1-3), and cisplatin 60 mg/m2 (days 1-3) were given at 3-week intervals as neoadjuvant chemotherapy. After 4 courses of chemotherapy, the inguinal metastases were markedly reduced. He had neutropenia (grade 3) during each course and peripheral neuropathy after 2 courses, but there were no severe complications. The patient underwent bilateral inguinal and pelvic lymphadenectomy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pathological examination revealed no viable cells in the resected specimens. The patient remains alive and well with no evidence of recurrence 8 months after this radical treatment. TIP chemotherapy appears to be effective for advanced penile cancer.