CURRENT CHALLENGES AND TREATMENT STRATEGIES FOR VULVAR CANCER: DIAGNOSIS, THERAPY, AND PREVENTION

Agnieszka Protasiuk; Agata Żak-Gontarz; Rafał Sierzpowski; Patrycja Tymoszuk; Katarzyna Augustowska; Kamila Budzyńska; Klaudia Klimczak; Laura Loryś

doi:10.31435/ijitss.3(47).2025.3796

Authors

Agnieszka Protasiuk Mazovian Voivodeship Hospital of John Paul II in Siedlce, Siedlce, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3085-9797
Agata Żak-Gontarz Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital SPZOZ in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6533-9048
Rafał Sierzpowski Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital SPZOZ in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0914-1139
Patrycja Tymoszuk Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital SPZOZ in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8459-4199
Katarzyna Augustowska Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Provincial Specialist Hospital SPZOZ in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7530-328X
Kamila Budzyńska Fryderyk Chopin University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4377-7189
Klaudia Klimczak Fryderyk Chopin University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6331-6043
Laura Loryś 1st Military Clinical Hospital with the Outpatient Clinic in Lublin, Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4245-4898

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(47).2025.3796

Keywords:

Vulvar Neoplasms, Vulvar Cancer, FIGO Cancer Report, Cancer Staging, Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Cancer Risk Factors, Guidelines, Review Literature

Abstract

Introduction and purpose: Vulvar cancer is a rare malignancy of the female genital tract. However, due to the increasing incidence of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections, there's a growing trend of this cancer affecting younger women. Often, misdiagnosis leads to delayed detection, resulting in a poor prognosis.

The aim of this study is to review the current literature concerning the epidemiology, incidence, trends, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment of vulvar cancer, in accordance with the latest ESGO 2021 guidelines.

Description: This review provides a comprehensive overview of available treatment modalities, including surgical cytoreduction, chemotherapy, and emerging therapies such as immunotherapy and cancer vaccines. The importance of interdisciplinary care is highlighted, alongside the critical role of prevention and patient education in mitigating cancer risk.

Summary: Despite diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, the overall prognosis for patients with vulvar cancer remains generally favorable. Nevertheless, disease recurrence—though associated with relatively low mortality—requires increased clinical vigilance. Therefore, patient education on the importance of regular monitoring during remission is essential.

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