Global Burden of Penile Cancer: A Review of Health Disparities for a Rare Disease

We performed a narrative review evaluating the influence of race and socioeconomic status for penile cancer patients based on region. We found higher incidence in underdeveloped nations. Globally, HPV-associated tumors are more prevalent, particularly in areas with high HPV and HIV infection. Socioeconomic determinants exacerbated these disparities. Similarly, in the United States, disparities were notable among racial and ethnic groups, with black men having worse survival. Understanding sociodemographic differences may help mitigate disparities by improving access to care with targeted interventions including education on risk factors and HPV vaccination to reduce penile cancer burden in vulnerable parts of the world.