Prognostic value of carbonic anhydrase IX expression in penile squamous cell carcinoma: A pilot study

ObjectivesTo determine whether carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) has prognostic value of lymph node metastases and cancer-specific survival in penile squamous cell carcinoma treated with surgery.Materials and methodsCA IX expression was detected in the primary disease of 73 penile cancer patients using the method of immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of CA IX were categorized into 2 groups according to the cutoff of 10% of positively stained tumor cells. Associations between CA IX expression and clinicopathologic characteristics, immunoreactivity of p53 and Ki-67, and outcomes were analyzed.ResultsHigh CA IX expression was observed in 31 (42.5%) of cases. CA IX expression was not associated with patient age, T stage, grade, lymphovascular invasion, and Ki-67 expression, but was associated with p53 expression (P = 0.015). Both univariate and multivariate analysis failed to show CA IX expression was a statistically significant predictor of lymph node metastases and cancer-specific survival.ConclusionsImmunohistochemical expression of CA IX did not associate with lymph node metastases and cancer-specific survival in penile squamous cell carcinoma. A panel of prognostic markers that reflect the characteristic of tumor cell and organ microenvironment may be more suitable for prognostication in penile cancer.