[Standard of care of carcinomas on cancer of unknown primary site in 2016]

Abstract

Patients with Cancer of unknown primary (cup) represent 2-10%, and have disseminated cancers for which we cannot find the primary site despite the clinical, pathological and radiological exams at our disposal. Diagnosis is based on a thorough clinical and histopathologic examination as well as new imaging techniques. Several clinicopathologic entities requiring specific treatment can be identified. Genome sequencing and liquid biopsy (circulating tumor cells and tumor free DNA) could allow further advances in the diagnosis. Therapeutically, in addition to surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, precision medicine provides new therapeutic approaches.

Keywords: Biopsie liquide; Cancer of unknown primary; Carcinome de primitif inconnu; Chemotherapy; Chimiothérapie; Genome sequencing; Immunohistochemistry; Immunohistochimie; Liquid biopsy; Médecine de précision; Precision medicine; Séquençage du génome.