Chemotherapy for carcinomas of the penis and urethra

The experience with cytotoxic drugs in penile and urethral carcinomas is limited to small series, frequently with inconclusive results. However, the preliminary evidence indicates that these tumors are responsive to drugs, particularly cisplatin, bleomycin, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil, as well as combinations of these agents. Efforts should continue to identify active regimens, and newer therapies such as biologic response modifiers, differentiation-inducing agents, and biochemical modulations should be tested vigorously. The potential of postoperative or postradiation adjuvant chemotherapy also warrants exploration. Because these tumors are so uncommon, penile and urethral carcinomas should be the focus of investigations by multi-institutional cooperative groups.