Management of Proximal Primary Urethral Cancer

Primary urethral cancer (PUC) is a rare, but devastating genitourinary tumor that affects men and women. Although most PUC are localized, proximal PUC frequently presents with locally advanced disease, with 30% to 40% having lymph node metastasis. Single modality surgical or radiation therapy has dismal results. Multimodal therapy with cisplatin-based chemotherapy and consolidation surgery has greatly improved the local recurrence and overall survival rates for this aggressive disease. In locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the urethra, radiotherapy combined with radiosensitizing chemotherapy is an option for genital preservation. Prospective, multi-institutional studies are required to further define the optimal multidisciplinary treatment strategy for this destructive disease.