Real-world histopathological approach to malignancy of undefined primary origin (MUO) to diagnose cancers of unknown primary (CUPs).

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study is to envisage a streamlined pathological workup to rule out CUPs in patients presenting with MUOs. Sixty-four MUOs were classified using standard histopathology. Clinical data, immunocytochemical markers, and results of molecular analysis were recorded. MUOs were histologically subdivided in clear-cut carcinomas (40 adenocarcinomas, 11 squamous, and 3 neuroendocrine carcinomas) and unclear-carcinoma features (5 undifferentiated and 5 sarcomatoid tumors). Cytohistology of 7/40 adenocarcinomas suggested an early metastatic cancer per se. In 33/40 adenocarcinomas, CK7/CK20 expression pattern, gender, and metastasis sites influenced tissue-specific marker selection. In 23/40 adenocarcinomas, a "putative-immunophenotype" of tissue of origin addressed clinical-diagnostic e

SUBMITTER: Pisacane A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9640798 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature