DeCure for Sarcomatoid penile squamous cell carcinoma
DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for sarcomatoid penile squamous cell carcinoma — screening already-approved drugs against its 1-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleSarcomatoid penile squamous cell carcinoma maps to a 1-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
No approved-drug candidate for sarcomatoid penile squamous cell carcinoma is corroborated in the literature DeepSearch retrieved. Some conditions are managed with non-pharmacological care — a device, surgery or physical therapy — rather than a medicine; that may be the case here, or the literature we found may simply be too sparse yet to support a drug-repurposing angle.
Molecular view
serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11) — STK11 is one of the genes genetically linked to this disease in Open Targets — shown as context, not as a drug target we're pursuing: no approved-drug candidate for this disease is yet corroborated in the literature we found.
Loading structure…
helix sheet adpdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 8VSU · 2.86 Å · ligand ADENOSINE-5'-DIPHOSPHATE (ADP). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Penile squamous cell carcinoma is a rare malignancy, representing 0.4% to 0.6% of male cancers in the United States and Europe, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 50% overall, dropping to 29%–40% for patients with positive lymph nodes. Sarcomatoid differentiation is found in about 3% of penile SCC cases. In a single-centre retrospective analysis of 38 men with sarcomatoid penile SCC diagnosed between 2010 and 2020, median follow-up was 16 months. Kaplan-Meier estimated disease-specific survival at 12, 24, and 36 months was 62%, 43%, and 36%, respectively, compared to 67%, 67%, and 67% in a matched non-sarcomatoid cohort. Recurrence-free survival at 12 and 24 months was 47% and 28% (vs 60% and 55%), and metastasis-free survival was 52% and 37% at the same time points (vs 62% and 57%). All differences were statistically significant, confirming that sarcomatoid histology carries a worse prognosis.
For advanced penile SCC, triplet platinum-based chemotherapy, particularly the paclitaxel-ifosfamide-cisplatin (TIP) regimen, remains the standard first-line option, offering reasonable response rates but with significant toxicity and short response duration. Only a small proportion of patients survive one year or longer with current standard treatment. Beyond chemotherapy, PD-1 inhibitors have emerged as alternatives. Cemiplimab and pembrolizumab have shown durable responses with improved tolerability. In a single case report, a 76-year-old man with recurrent penile SCC after surgery was treated with tislelizumab (a PD-1 inhibitor) combined with albumin paclitaxel and nedaplatin for two cycles; pelvic MRI showed disappearance of multiple enlarged inguinal lymph nodes. This is the only reported case of that combination in penile SCC.
PD-L1 is frequently overexpressed in advanced penile SCC, suggesting potential efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, but randomised clinical trials with these agents are still awaited. The 2025 review notes that for fit patients with advanced disease, TIP remains standard first-line, while ICIs are valuable alternatives. No prospective trial has yet tested adding immunotherapy to platinum-based chemotherapy. What is still missing are randomised controlled trials, larger prospective cohorts for the sarcomatoid subtype, and biomarker-driven patient stratification to determine which patients are most likely to benefit from immunotherapy or chemotherapy combinations.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network · 2013 · 185 citations · open access
Penile Cancer
AbstractSquamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis is a rare disease, representing 0.4% to 0.6% of all malignant neoplasms among men in the United States and Europe. 1 In 2012, the estimated number of new penile cancer cases in the United States was 1570, with 310 cancer-specific deaths predicted. 2 The incidence is higher (up to 10%) among men in the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and South America. The most common age of presentation is between 50 and 70 years. 3 Early diagnosis is of utmost importance, because this disease can result in devastating disfigurement and has a 5-year survival rate of approximately 50% (>85% for patients with negative lymph nodes and 29%-40% for patients with positive nodes, with the lowest survival rates
Translational Andrology and Urology · 2017 · 21 citations · open access
Beyond chemotherapy for advanced disease—the role of EGFR and PD-1 inhibitors
AbstractPenile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare malignancy with limited treatment options when the tumor is unresectable and/or chemorefractory. Triplet systemic chemotherapy regimens including taxane and cisplatin are recommended, but the response duration can be short and the treatment-related toxicity high. Only a small proportion of patients survive 1 year or longer with the current standard treatment paradigm. Beyond chemotherapy, the use of novel targeted agents, either alone or in combination with traditional chemotherapeutic agents, has appeared to have promising efficacy in patients with platinum-refractory penile cancer. The frequent overexpression of PD-L1 in advanced penile SCC indicates the potential efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors. Upcoming clinical trials using the immune check-point inhibitors may provide exciting landscape and change the paradigm for patients in the future.
Outcomes of penile sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma from a single tertiary referral centre: a matched cohort study
AbstractOBJECTIVE: To report the oncological survival outcomes of men with penile sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma (sSCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of men with penile sSCC diagnosed between January 2010 and January 2020 in a single centre was conducted. Disease-specific (DSS), recurrence-free (RFS) and metastasis-free (MFS) survival were evaluated. Outcomes were compared with a non-sarcomatoid penile SCC cohort matched to age, type of surgery and tumour stage. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to estimate survival outcomes. RESULTS: In all, 1286 men were diagnosed with penile SCC during the study period and of these 38 (3%) men had sSCC. The median (interquartile range) age and follow-up was 70 (57-81) years and 16 (7-44) months, respectively. Operations performed included: circumcision, one (2.6%); wide local excision, four (10.5%); glansectomy, 11 (29%); partial penectomy, 10 (26%); subtotal/total penectomy, 12 (32%). The Kaplan-Meier estimated 12-, 24- and 36-month DSS was 62% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 67%), 43% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 67%) and 36% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 67%), respectively (P = 0.03). The Kaplan-Meier estimated 12- and 24-month RFS was 47% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 60%) and 28% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 55%), respectively (P = 0.01). The MFS was 52% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 62%) at 12 months and 37% (vs non-sarcomatoid, 57%) at 24 months (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Sarcomatoid differentiation was associated with a lower DSS, RFS and MFS. Due to the rarity of its incidence and aggressiveness, expert histological review and multidisciplinary management is required in a specialist penile cancer centre.
A challenging diagnosis of penile sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma
AbstractWe report a patient with penile sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) initially misdiagnosed as condyloma acuminatum. Sarcomatoid SCC is a rare, aggressive, biphasic cancer that often presents a diagnostic challenge and carries a poor prognosis, especially after a delay in diagnosis. Although sarcomatoid SCC may exhibit a broad range of clinical features, the expression of p63 and keratin 34?E12 is a common finding. Our case highlights the importance of accurate clinicopathologic correlation to facilitate a timely diagnosis and management of this rare and highly aggressive malignancy.
Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice · 2025 · 0 citations
An update on the pharmacotherapy of penile cancer
AbstractObjectiveTo review the current pharmacologic treatment landscape for penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC), with a focus on current pharmacotherapy and emerging therapeutic approaches.Data SourcesAn extensive Medline, Embase and Cochrane search of peer-reviewed sources reporting on pharmacotherapy of penile cancer was performed (1/1/2000-06/30/2025). Contribution of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to the therapeutics of penile cancer was carefully considered.Data SummaryThis review highlights recent advances in the management of PSCC, covering key aspects of global epidemiology, molecular subtyping, guideline-based treatment by stage, and systemic therapeutic approaches. Particular attention is given to the growing role of immunotherapy in biomarker-selected populations and its potential to reshape the treatment landscape of this disease. For fit patients with advanced disease, platinum-based chemotherapy, particularly the paclitaxel-ifosfamide-cisplatin regimen (TIP), remains the standard first-line option, offering reasonable response rates albeit with significant toxicity. In contrast, ICIs have emerged as valuable alternatives. Cemiplimab and pembrolizumab have shown durable responses in this setting, with the added benefit of improved tolerability and quality of life.ConclusionsDespite its rarity, penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) remains a therapeutically challenging malignancy. Randomized clinical trials with ICIs are being awaited. We believe that clinical trials to test the addition of these agents to a backbone of platinum-based chemotherapy are also warranted. Continued global collaboration and prospective trials are essential to refine stage-based management, improve access to specialized care, and integrate precision oncology to the bedside of patients with PSCC.
Image_1_Immunotherapy Combined With Chemotherapy for Postoperative Recurrent Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review.tif
Abstract<p>Penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare malignant tumor in males with a poor prognosis. Currently, the primary treatment is surgery. Recurrent cases have limited treatment options after failed radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The therapeutic effect of immunotherapy in penile SCCs has not been reported. Tislelizumab, a new PD1 inhibitor, has shown a satisfactory impact in treating head and neck SCC and lung SCC combined with chemotherapy. However, there is currently no report on its efficacy in penile SCC. Here, a 76-year-old man with multiple enlarged inguinal lymph nodes 11 months after radical surgery for penile SCC was administered immunotherapy (tislelizumab) combined with chemotherapy (albumin paclitaxel plus nedaplatin) for 2 cycles. Pelvic Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed that the multiple lymph nodes in the groin area disappeared. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy showing promising results in recurrent penile SCC. It provides a basis for developing a new treatment option combining immunotherapy and chemotherapy, whose efficacy needs to be further evaluated in penile SCC.</p>
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
