Metastases in the Absence of a Primary Tumor: Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of CUP Syndrome.
BACKGROUND
The term cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) syndrome is used to describe malignancies in which a complete diagnostic work-up detects metastases in the absence of an identifiable primary tumor.


METHODS
Based on a selective literature review, national and international guidelines, and the experience of the "Arbeitskreis CUP-Syndrom der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie der Deutschen Krebsgesellschaft" (CUP Syndrome Committee of the Medical Oncology Joint Working Group of the German Cancer Society), developments in the diagnosis and treatment of CUP syndrome are reported.


RESULTS
Most patients diagnosed with CUP have an unfavorable prognosis, with a life expectancy of less than 12 months. Nevertheless, it is important to identify subsets of patients in whom specific treatment offers the chance of long-term survival or even full recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
Only rigorous further development of diagnostic tools and treatment protocols will enable an improvement of the poor prognosis of patients with CUP syndrome. Specific molecular treatment strategies have shown promising results.
Neben
Kai
K
Hübner
Gerdt
G
Folprecht
Gunnar
G
Jäger
Dirk
D
Krämer
Alwin
A