Urethral cancer historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vindhya BellamKonda, M.B.B.S [2]

Adenocarcinoma of the urethra in females, a rare malignancy was discovered as early as 1945. Case reports of primary urethral cancers in males have been reported as early as 1948.

• In 1945, adenocarcinoma of the urethra was first discovered and described in females.^[1]
• Later in 1948, carcinoma of urethra in males is disovered.^[2]
• In 1962, a case of melanosarcoma of urethra is described.^[3]
• A case of rhabdomyosarcoma in a 5 year old girl has been described in the year 2007.^[4]
• Carcinoma insitu in bladder and urethra among renal transplant patient has been reported in the year 2008.^[5]

• Total urethrectomy for carcinoma of female urethra was performed in the year 1956.^[6]

• FDA approved the first chemotherapy drug “cisplatin” for treatment of bladder tumors in 1978 and the drug is also being used for the treatment of urethral cancers..

• FDA approved the use of live bacterium, bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) for treatment and prevent the recurrence of superficial tumors in 1990.^[7]
• New chemotherapy combination regimen including gemcitabine with cisplatin is introduced as more effective with less side effects compare to MVAC therapy in 2000.^[8]
• Photodynamic therapy is an innovative therapeutic modality in urologic malignancy.^[9]