New Developments and Challenges in Rare Genitourinary Tumors: Non-Urothelial Bladder Cancers and Squamous Cell Cancers of the Penis

Abstract

The diagnosis and treatment of rare genitourinary tumors is inherently challenging. The Rare Diseases Act of 2002 initially defined a rare disorder as one that affects fewer than 200,000 Americans. The lack of widely available clinical guidelines, limited research funding, and inaccessible clinical trials often lead to difficulty with treatment decisions to guide practitioners in rendering effective care for patients with rare genitourinary cancers. This article will discuss basic tenets of diagnosis and treatment as well as recent developments and clinical trials in rare non-urothelial bladder cancers and penile squamous cell cancers.