Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37394540›Full record

ReviewCancer metastasis reviews2023

Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP): an update for histopathologists.

Katie Beauchamp, Bruce Moran, Timothy O'Brien, Donal Brennan, John Crown, Kieran Sheahan, Maura Bríd Cotter

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cancer metastasis reviews, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
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  10. Article
  11. Epidemiologic, histopathological, and prognostic analysis of cancer of unknown primary in an Iranian population.Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Katie BeauchampDepartment of Histopathology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland. katie.beauchamp@hse.ie.ORCID 0000-0003-2696-4724
Bruce MoranDepartment of Histopathology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0002-7266-0265
Timothy O'BrienDepartment of Medical Oncology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.
Donal BrennanSystems Biology Ireland, UCD School of Medicine, Belfield, Dublin4, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0002-6747-3342
John CrownDepartment of Medical Oncology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0002-3125-7613
Kieran SheahanDepartment of Histopathology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Maura Bríd CotterDepartment of Histopathology, St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland.ORCID 0000-0003-1720-2840

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) is a heterogeneous group of metastatic cancers in which the site of origin is not identifiable. These carcinomas have a poor outcome due to their late presentation with metastatic disease, difficulty in identifying the origin and delay in treatment. The aim of the pathologist is to broadly classify and subtype the cancer and, where possible, to confirm the likely primary site as this information best predicts patient outcome and guides treatment. In this review, we provide histopathologists with diagnostic practice points which contribute to identifying the primary origin in such cases. We present the current clinical evaluation and management from the point of view of the oncologist. We discuss the role of the pathologist in the diagnostic pathway including the control of pre-analytical conditions, assessment of sample adequacy, diagnosis of cancer including diagnostic pitfalls, and evaluation of prognostic and predictive markers. An integrated diagnostic report is ideal in cases of CUP, with results discussed at a forum such as a molecular tumour board and matched with targeted treatment. This highly specialized evolving area ultimately leads to personalized oncology and potentially improved outcomes for patients.

Indexed as

CarcinomaNeoplasms, Unknown PrimaryHumansPathologistsPrognosisCarcinoma of unknown primaryImmunohistochemistryMetastaticMolecular pathologyMorphologyPitfalls

Identifiers

PMID37394540
PMCPMC10713813

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.