title: [Carcinoma of unknown primary : a not so rare entity].
abstract: Carcinomas of unknown primary (CUP) form a whole group of heterogeneous neoplasias. CUP are defined as metastatic epithelial tumors in which the initial work up has failed to detect the primary site. Their frequency is 3-5 % of the adult solid neoplasias. The prognosis is poor with a life expectancy of a few months (inferior to 1 year). The treatment depends on the histology and, particularly, on the metastatic localiza¬tion. Surgery with or without radiotherapy is the preferred treatment option for isolated lesions. Systemic chemotherapy (with platinum compound) will be recommended for multiple lesions. The genetic expression profile of tumor cells could be useful in the future to determine the site of the primary tumor and/or to offer the best therapy for each patient.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CHU de Liège, Site Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgique.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gonne
authors.affiliation: Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CHU de Liège, Site Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgique.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Collignon
authors.affiliation: Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CHU de Liège, Site Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgique.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jerusalem
authors.affiliation: Service d'Oncologie Médicale, CHU de Liège, Site Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgique.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gennigens
mesh_terms: D000025:Abortion, Eugenic; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis
keywords:  Chemotherapy ;  Epithelial tumor ;  Genetic expression profile ; Carcinoma of unknown primary 