Key points
- Before labelling a cancer CUP: a full history and examination, CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, and a targeted immunohistochemistry panel [1].
- About 15 to 20% of patients fall into "favourable" subsets with specific treatment and better outcomes [1].
- In unfavourable CUP, molecular profiling (NGS) can find a targeted treatment [1, 2].
Favourable subsets
| Subset | Treat as |
|---|---|
| A woman with adenocarcinoma only in the axillary nodes | Breast cancer |
| A woman with serous peritoneal carcinoma | Ovarian cancer |
| Squamous cell carcinoma in the neck nodes | Head and neck cancer |
| A man with osteoblastic bone metastases and a high PSA | Prostate cancer |
| CUP with a colorectal profile (CK20+, CDX2+, CK7−) | Colorectal cancer |
| Neuroendocrine tumour | According to grade |
| A single resectable lesion | Local treatment (surgery or radiotherapy) |
Unfavourable CUP
Platinum chemotherapy (for example carboplatin-paclitaxel) has been the basis of treatment [1]. In the CUPISCO study, in patients controlled after initial chemotherapy, treatment guided by molecular profiling increased progression-free survival from 4.4 to 6.1 months [2].
References
2 referencesShow all referencesClose the reference list
Numbers in the text, such as [1], refer to these sources. Sources with a “Study card” button are summarised in the site’s evidence library.
- 1
- 2
This page is based on reputable scientific sources and was last updated on 28 October 2026. The content of this website is for educational and informational purposes only and does not replace consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a specialist physician. Consult your treating physician about any treatment decision.
Printed from the website; the full and up-to-date version: https://drdabiri.com/en/learn/cancer-of-unknown-primary/