Danish National Penile Cancer Database, DaPeCa-data: characteristics, management, and survival 2000–2025

Purpose: To present the characteristics of Danish penile cancer patients, treatment strategies, and prognosis. Methods: The Danish National Penile Cancer database currently contains information on 1,397 patients with penile cancer referred to a university center from 2000 to 2025. The database was established by retrospective medical chart review. The set of variables were defined by the Danish Multidisciplinary Cancer Group, DaPeCa. Key findings: Between 2000 and 2025, 1,397 patients with penile cancer were evaluated at a tertiary Danish center; 1,200 (86%) were treated with curative intent. Most patients presented with pT1-2 disease (79%), while 206 (15%) had pN3 disease and 47 (3.4%) had distant metastases at diagnosis. Surgical nodal staging was performed in 87% of patients. Organ-preserving treatment was used in 47% of curatively treated patients and in 75% of pT1 tumors. The overall 5-year cumulative incidence (CI) of penile cancer–specific death was 16% (95% CI 14–19), compared with 11% (95% CI 8.8–13) among curatively treated patients and 53% (95% CI 45–60) in non-curative cases. Mortality increased markedly with disease stage, reaching a CI of 58% in AJCC stage IV and 83% in patients with distant metastases. In multivariable analyses, higher T stage and nodal stage were the strongest predictors of disease-specific survival. Conclusion: 45% of patients were diagnosed with pT1 tumors, 27% presented with nodal metastases (pN +), and 3.4% had distant metastases at diagnosis. Overall 5-year cumulative incidence of penile cancer-specific death was 16% (14%, 19%). Most patients were treated with curative intent and achieved favorable survival outcomes. T stage and nodal stage were the strongest independent predictors of disease-specific survival.