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Support Care Cancer 2022 Jul 28;30(7):6353-6363. Epub 2022 Apr 28.

Nursing for Advanced Practice, Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.

Purpose: Cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis. As research on the experiences of CUP patients and their families is scarce, this study aimed to compare the family caregiver-perceived burden of CUP with that of common cancers (lung, colon, and stomach cancers). The association between family caregiver-perceived burden and CUP patients' quality of life (QOL) at end-of-life and family depression, respectively, was also explored. Read More

Am J Otolaryngol 2022 May-Jun;43(3):103457. Epub 2022 Apr 6.

Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Head and Neck Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Most human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive carcinomas of unknown primary (CUP) in the cervical lymph nodes are ultimately found to arise from the oropharynx, which has by far the highest prevalence of HPV-positivity among head and neck tumors. However, HPV is also detected in a subset of tumors from other sites. In this case report, we describe the first reported instance of a lacrimal sac carcinoma presenting as an HPV-positive CUP. Read More

Front Oncol 2022 30;12:723140. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.

Background: For cancer of unknown primary (CUP), non-selective empiric chemotherapy is usually used. However, patients suffering from CUP are generally assumed to have a dismal prognosis with median overall survival of less than 1 year. Therefore, clinicians eagerly await the establishment of effective strategies for diagnosis and treatment. Read More

Int J Cancer 2022 Aug 25;151(3):396-401. Epub 2022 Apr 25.

Population Health Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.

Based on molecular evidence that melanomas with unknown primary (MUPs) arise from the skin, we hypothesised that sites of MUPs are disproportionately on trunk and lower limbs, sites that are not readily visible to patients and clinicians. We tested this hypothesis by inferring the anatomic site of origin of MUPs from the corresponding known cutaneous sites of melanoma patients with known primary tumours (MKPs). We analysed data from three separate cohorts of patients from Brisbane, Australia (n = 236); Manchester, UK (n = 51) and Padova, Italy (n = 33), respectively, who first presented with stage III melanoma with lymph node metastases. Read More

BMC Womens Health 2022 04 5;22(1):101. Epub 2022 Apr 5.

Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 Youyi Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, People's Republic of China.

Background: Endometriosis is a common benign gynecological disease characterized by growing-functioning endometrial tissue outside the uterus. Extra-pelvic endometriosis, which accounts for approximately 12% of endometriosis, is more challenging to diagnose because of its distance from the pelvic organs. Halban's theory of benign metastasis indicates that endometrial cells can appear in extra-pelvic organs via lymphatic and blood vessels, but endometrial lymph node metastasis cases are still rare. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2022 Apr 16;93:106954. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Department of Radiology, Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia.

Introduction And Importance: Cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) is metastatic cancer without primary tumor found from comprehensive medical history, physical examination, and regular laboratory examination. Eighty percent of CUP include unfavorable groups with 3 to 6 months of median survival despite chemotherapy treatment.

Case Presentation: A 52-year-old male was presented with a chief complaint of a recurrent lump in the neck and axilla. Read More

Head Neck 2022 Jul 25;44(7):1715-1724. Epub 2022 Mar 25.

Department of Dentistry, State University of Maringá (UEM), Maringá, Brazil.

This systematic review is the first to provide evidence regarding demographic, clinical, and imaging characteristics, as well as information related to survival, of patients with oral and maxillofacial metastases of occult primary tumors. Case reports, case series, and cross-sectional studies were included. Ten databases were searched. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2022 Mar 17;23(6). Epub 2022 Mar 17.

Cancer Molecular Pathology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast 4222, Australia.

Secondary tumours to the thyroid gland are uncommon and often incidentally discovered on imaging. Symptomatic patients often present with a neck mass. Collision tumours of secondary tumours and primary thyroid neoplasms do occur. Read More

Clin Transl Oncol 2022 Apr 23;24(4):681-692. Epub 2022 Mar 23.

Hospital Durán i Reynals-ICO Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain.

Cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) is defined as a heterogeneous group of tumors that appear as metastases, and of which standard diagnostic work-up fails to identify the origin. It is considered a separate entity with a specific biology, and nowadays molecular characteristics and the determination of actionable mutations may be important in a significant group of patients. In this guide, we summarize the diagnostic, therapeutic, and possible new developments in molecular medicine that may help us in the management of this unique disease entity. Read More

Eye (Lond) 2022 Mar 19. Epub 2022 Mar 19.

Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Metastasis to the eye can involve the choroid (90%), ciliary body (2%), iris (8%), and retina, optic disc, vitreous, and/or lens capsule (<1-4%). The mean number of uveal metastasis per eye (1.7), mean tumour base (11. Read More

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 2022 Mar;49(3):259-263

Dept. of Genome Biology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine.

Progress in genomic analysis are expected to improve the treatment outcome of cancers of unknown primary(CUP). We conducted a randomized phase Ⅱ trial of carboplatin plus paclitaxel versus site-specific therapy based on gene expression profiling(GEP)in patients with CUP. A phase Ⅱ trial was conducted in patients with CUP to evaluate the feasibility of site- specific therapy based on NGS-based primary site prediction from GEPs, including irGEP. Read More

Endocr Pathol 2022 Mar 16;33(1):115-154. Epub 2022 Mar 16.

Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.

In this review, we detail the changes and the relevant features that are applied to neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) in the 2022 WHO Classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors. Using a question-and-answer approach, we discuss the consolidation of the nomenclature that distinguishes neuronal paragangliomas from epithelial neoplasms, which are divided into well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). The criteria for these distinctions based on differentiation are outlined. Read More

JCO Precis Oncol 2022 03;6:e2100280

Center for Cancer Innovation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Purpose: Patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) have poor outcomes. The Intensive Trial of Omics in Cancer (ITOMIC) sought to determine the feasibility and potential efficacy of informing treatment decisions through multiple biopsies of mTNBC deposits longitudinally over time, accompanied by analysis using a distributed network of experts.

Methods: Thirty-one subjects were enrolled and 432 postenrollment biopsies performed (clinical and study-directed) of which 332 were study-directed. Read More

Front Oncol 2022 24;12:830816. Epub 2022 Feb 24.

Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.

Background: Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is a heterogenous disease with limited precision medicine and targeted therapy options. Monoclonal antibodies against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been a crucial treatment option for mCRC. However, proper biomarkers for predicting therapeutic response remain unknown. Read More

Arch Gynecol Obstet 2022 Mar 9. Epub 2022 Mar 9.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Technische Universität München (TUM), Ismaninger Straße 22, Munich, Germany.

Purpose: PET-CT has recently been included in the NCCN staging recommendations for cervical cancer stages II-IV and is already routinely applied to radiotherapy planning for other malignancies, as it is expected to provide higher accuracy for the detection of areas with tumor cell spread. In this study, we report on our first experiences of PET-based radiotherapy planning for cervical cancer.

Methods: 19 patients with cervical cancer that underwent pre-therapeutic PET imaging treated at our institution between January 2016 and April 2019 were included in the study. Read More

ESMO Open 2022 04 3;7(2):100407. Epub 2022 Mar 3.

Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. Electronic address:

Background: Cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) is a term applied to characterize pathologically confirmed metastatic cancer with unknown primary tumor origin. It remains uncertain whether patients with CUP benefit from site-specific therapy guided by molecular profiling.

Patients And Methods: A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials. Read More

Anticancer Res 2022 03;42(3):1381-1396

Department of Pathology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, U.S.A.;

Background/aim: Cancer of unknown primary (CUP), representing 3-5% of all newly diagnosed cancers in the United States, is a presumptive, non-definitive diagnosis rendered when a primary tumor site cannot be identified after exhaustive diagnostic evaluation, including cases of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). CUPs are characterized by findings that are challenging to reconcile, including inconclusive immunohistochemical (IHC) stains, an undifferentiated morphologic phenotype, history of multiple cancers, a clinical presentation that is discordant from histologic findings, an atypical distribution of metastases, or lack of expected response to treatment. For a significant subset of NENs (10%), traditional diagnostic evaluation is unable to determine a primary tumor site using histomorphology and IHC stains. Read More

Urology 2022 Jun 16;164:304-305. Epub 2022 Feb 16.

Pathology Unit, Monterosso Polyspecialistic Center, Carrara, Italy.

Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2022 Feb 10:e1610. Epub 2022 Feb 10.

Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Division of Surgical Oncology & HPB Surgery, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Background: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are neoplasms that arise from cells of the endocrine and nervous system. NETs, often found in the gastrointestinal tract, can be found anywhere in the body, and have metastatic potential. NETs occasionally present with metastatic disease without an identifiable primary tumor. Read More

Nucl Med Rev Cent East Eur 2022 ;25(1):1-5

Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hatay, Turkey.

Background: The aim of this study is to find the sensitivity of the [18F]FDG PET/CT and the classification of the primary sites of carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) as a single-center experience.

Material And Methods: Sixty-eight patients with a mean age of 62.43 ± 12. Read More

Surgery 2022 Jun 1;171(6):1464-1470. Epub 2022 Feb 1.

Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Electronic address:

Background: Patients with liver-only metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma have traditionally been offered palliative chemotherapy alone. Recent studies have explored the role of surgical resection among patients with limited metastatic disease. National practice patterns and the impact of surgery among these patients remains unknown. Read More

Front Genet 2021 6;12:798748. Epub 2022 Jan 6.

State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center For Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

The metastatic cancer of unknown primary (CUP) sites remains a leading cause of cancer death with few therapeutic options. The aberrant DNA methylation (DNAm) is the most important risk factor for cancer, which has certain tissue specificity. However, how DNAm alterations in tumors differ among the regulatory network of multi-omics remains largely unexplored. Read More