Cancer of Unknown Primary: Challenges and Progress in Clinical Management
Distant metastases are the main cause of cancer-related deaths in patients with advanced tumors. A standard diagnostic workup usually contains the identification of the tissue-of-origin of metastatic tumors, although under certain circumstances, it remains elusive. This disease setting is defined as...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | Cancers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/3/451 |
| _version_ | 1797407489968308224 |
|---|---|
| author | Noemi Laprovitera Mattia Riefolo Elisa Ambrosini Christiane Klec Martin Pichler Manuela Ferracin |
| author_facet | Noemi Laprovitera Mattia Riefolo Elisa Ambrosini Christiane Klec Martin Pichler Manuela Ferracin |
| author_sort | Noemi Laprovitera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Distant metastases are the main cause of cancer-related deaths in patients with advanced tumors. A standard diagnostic workup usually contains the identification of the tissue-of-origin of metastatic tumors, although under certain circumstances, it remains elusive. This disease setting is defined as cancer of unknown primary (CUP). Accounting for approximately 3–5% of all cancer diagnoses, CUPs are characterized by an aggressive clinical behavior and represent a real therapeutic challenge. The lack of determination of a tissue of origin precludes CUP patients from specific evidence-based therapeutic options or access to clinical trial, which significantly impacts their life expectancy. In the era of precision medicine, it is essential to characterize CUP molecular features, including the expression profile of non-coding RNAs, to improve our understanding of CUP biology and identify novel therapeutic strategies. This review article sheds light on this enigmatic disease by summarizing the current knowledge on CUPs focusing on recent discoveries and emerging diagnostic strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:42:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-304e3dd5e2a2479197db06dea452dca1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:42:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-304e3dd5e2a2479197db06dea452dca12023-12-03T14:38:12ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942021-01-0113345110.3390/cancers13030451Cancer of Unknown Primary: Challenges and Progress in Clinical ManagementNoemi Laprovitera0Mattia Riefolo1Elisa Ambrosini2Christiane Klec3Martin Pichler4Manuela Ferracin5Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDivision of Oncology, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, AustriaDivision of Oncology, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, AustriaDepartment of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, ItalyDistant metastases are the main cause of cancer-related deaths in patients with advanced tumors. A standard diagnostic workup usually contains the identification of the tissue-of-origin of metastatic tumors, although under certain circumstances, it remains elusive. This disease setting is defined as cancer of unknown primary (CUP). Accounting for approximately 3–5% of all cancer diagnoses, CUPs are characterized by an aggressive clinical behavior and represent a real therapeutic challenge. The lack of determination of a tissue of origin precludes CUP patients from specific evidence-based therapeutic options or access to clinical trial, which significantly impacts their life expectancy. In the era of precision medicine, it is essential to characterize CUP molecular features, including the expression profile of non-coding RNAs, to improve our understanding of CUP biology and identify novel therapeutic strategies. This review article sheds light on this enigmatic disease by summarizing the current knowledge on CUPs focusing on recent discoveries and emerging diagnostic strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/3/451cancers of unknown primary siteprimary site identificationclinical managementmolecular profilingliquid biopsy |
| spellingShingle | Noemi Laprovitera Mattia Riefolo Elisa Ambrosini Christiane Klec Martin Pichler Manuela Ferracin Cancer of Unknown Primary: Challenges and Progress in Clinical Management Cancers cancers of unknown primary site primary site identification clinical management molecular profiling liquid biopsy |
| title | Cancer of Unknown Primary: Challenges and Progress in Clinical Management |
| title_full | Cancer of Unknown Primary: Challenges and Progress in Clinical Management |
| title_fullStr | Cancer of Unknown Primary: Challenges and Progress in Clinical Management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cancer of Unknown Primary: Challenges and Progress in Clinical Management |
| title_short | Cancer of Unknown Primary: Challenges and Progress in Clinical Management |
| title_sort | cancer of unknown primary challenges and progress in clinical management |
| topic | cancers of unknown primary site primary site identification clinical management molecular profiling liquid biopsy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/3/451 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT noemilaprovitera cancerofunknownprimarychallengesandprogressinclinicalmanagement AT mattiariefolo cancerofunknownprimarychallengesandprogressinclinicalmanagement AT elisaambrosini cancerofunknownprimarychallengesandprogressinclinicalmanagement AT christianeklec cancerofunknownprimarychallengesandprogressinclinicalmanagement AT martinpichler cancerofunknownprimarychallengesandprogressinclinicalmanagement AT manuelaferracin cancerofunknownprimarychallengesandprogressinclinicalmanagement |