A trial looking at giving chemotherapy for cancer of the penis (Penile TPF)

The trial team found that the combination of cisplatin, 5FU and docetaxel did not work as well as they had hoped in cancer of the penis.  

This was a phase 2 trial. It recruited 29 men. Everyone had cisplatin, 5FU and docetaxel.

Of these 29 men, the researchers were able to look at how well the cancer had responded in 26 men. At the end of study treatment they found that

• 2 men had no sign of cancer– a complete response
• 8 men had cancer that had shrunk– a partial response
• 8 men had cancer that had stayed the same size – stable disease
• 6 men had cancer that had continued to grow
• 2 men unfortunately died

After an average follow up of 14½ months, 14 men were still alive and for 12 of them there was no sign of their cancer.  

The most common side effects were

• A drop in white blood cells causing an increased risk of infection
• Infection
• Diarrhoea

The trial team concluded that although the combination of docetaxel, 5FU and cisplatin didn’t work for most of the men, in the small number that it did there was a good response.

We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the trial. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists (peer reviewed ) and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.