Metastatic Cancer With Unknown Primary Site Follow-up

  • Author: Winston W Tan, MD; Chief Editor: Jules E Harris, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 17, 2012
 

Prognosis

Median survival ranges from 11 weeks to 11 months. The 5-year overall survival rate is about 11%.

The overall prognosis of patients with cancer of unknown primary origin with multiple organ involvement and poor performance status is grave; the median survival is only 3-4 months. The 1-year survival rate is less than 15%, with a 5-year survival of 5-10%. Certain clinical factors, like male sex, multiple brain metastases, pleural/lung involvement, liver involvement, adrenal involvement, and adenocarcinoma histology are poor prognostic markers. Others, like lymph node involvement and neuroendocrine histology, are associated with a longer survival.

In contrast, some favorable subsets have been identified that respond well to certain specific treatment strategies. See Medical Care.

 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Winston W Tan, MD  Assistant Professor of Medicine, Mayo Medical School; Consulting Staff, Mayo Group Practices

Winston W Tan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, Philippine Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Surabhi Amar, MD  Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville

Surabhi Amar, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Hematology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Nasir Shahab, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Missouri at Columbia

Nasir Shahab, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and American Society of Hematology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael Perry, MD, MS, MACP  Nellie B Smith Chair of Oncology Emeritus, Director, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Deputy Director, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine

Michael Perry, MD, MS, MACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Medical Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and Missouri State Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Robert C Shepard, MD, FACP  Associate Professor of Medicine in Hematology and Oncology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Therapeutic Expertise, Oncology, at PRA International

Robert C Shepard, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Federation for Medical Research, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, American Society of Hematology, Association of Clinical Research Professionals, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, European Society for Medical Oncology, Massachusetts Medical Society, and Society for Biological Therapy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Benjamin Movsas, MD  Vice-Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center

Benjamin Movsas, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Radium Society, and American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP  Southwest Medical Consultants, SC, Department of Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, Advocate Health Systems

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Jules E Harris, MD  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Arizona Cancer Center

Jules E Harris, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Immunologists, American Society of Hematology, and Central Society for Clinical Research

Disclosure: GlobeImmune Salary Consulting

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