Summary
Background
In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients presenting with liver metastases from unknown primary site besides survival rates, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors.
Methods
In all, 68 patients followed-up at our center with adenocarcinoma of unknown primary (ACUP) metastatic to the liver between 2005 and 2013 were enrolled. All of the liver metastases were proven by liver biopsy and all yielded diagnosis of adenocarcinoma.
Results
Median age was 61 years (29–90) and most of the patients were male (male/female: 43/25). The liver was the only metastatic site in 2 (3 %) patients whilst 66 patients (97 %) had extrahepatic metastases. The most common extrahepatic metastatic sites were lymph nodes (89.7 %), lungs (32.4 %), bones (25 %), peritoneum (11.8 %), brain (4.4 %), and adrenal glands (2.9 %). Of all 68 patients, 39 (57.4 %) were treated with chemotherapy. Median overall survival (OS) was significantly higher in ACUP patients treated with chemotherapy [12.5 months (95 % CI 8.3–16.7) vs. 4 months (95 % CI 1.2–6.8), (p = 0.026), respectively]. In multivariate analysis, ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status (p = 0.009), chemotherapy (p = 0.024), serum albumin (p = 0.012), and serum CA 19-9 level (p = 0.026) at initial diagnosis were identified as independent prognostic factors influencing survival for the patients with liver metastases from ACUP.
Conclusion
Patients with liver metastases from ACUP have poor prognosis and chemotherapy improves survival. Decreased serum albumin level, increased CA 19-9 level and poor performance status are independent poor prognostic factors.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hainsworth JD, Greco FA. Treatment of patients with cancer of an unknown primary site. N Engl J Med. 1993;329:257–63.
Greco FA, Hainsworth JD. Tumors of unknown origin. CA Cancer J Clin. 1992;42:96–115.
Pavlidis N. Cancer of unknown primary: biological and clinical characteristics. Ann Oncol. 2003;14 Suppl 3:iii11–18.
Pavlidis N, Briasoulis E, Hainsworth J, Greco FA. Diagnostic and therapeutic management of cancer of an unknown primary. Eur J Cancer. 2003;39:1990–2005.
Ayoub JP, Hess KR, Abbruzzese MC, Lenzi R, Raber MN, Abbruzzese JL. Unknown primary tumors metastatic to liver. J Clin Oncol. 1998;16(6):2105–12.
Lazaridis G, Pentheroudakis G, Fountzilas G, Pavlidis N. Liver metastases from cancer of unknown primary. Cancer Treat Rev. 2008;34:693–700.
Pouessel D, Thezenas S, Culine S, Becht C, Senesse P, Ychou M. Hepatic metastases from carcinomas of unknown primary site. Gastroenterol Clin Biol. 2005;29:1224–32.
Hogan BA, Thornton FJ, Brannigan M, et al. Hepatic metastases from an unknown primary neoplasm: survivall, prognostic indicators and value of extensive investigations. Clin Radiol. 2002;57:1073–7.
Abbruzzese JL, Abbruzzese MC, Hess KR, Raber MN, Lenzi R, Frost P. Unknown primary carcinoma: natural history and prognostic factors in 657 consecutive patients. J Clin Oncol. 1994;12:1272–80.
Pavlidis N, Fizazi K. Cancer of unknown primary (CUP). Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2005;54:243–50.
Hillen HF. Unknown primary tumours. Postgrad Med J. 2000;76:690–3.
Bugat R, Bataillard A, Lesimple T, et al. Summary of the standards, options and recommendations for the management of patients with carcinoma of unknown primary site (2002). Br J Cancer. 2003;89 Suppl 1:S59–66.
Amela EY, Lauridant-Philippin G, Cousin S, Ryckewaert T, Adenis A, Penel N. Management of “unfavourable” carcinoma of unknown primary site: synthesis of recent literature. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2012;84:213–23.
Greco FA, Burris HA 3rd, Litchy S, et al. Gemcitabine, carboplatin, and paclitaxel for patients with carcinoma of unknown primary site: a Minnie Pearl Cancer Research Network study. J Clin Oncol. 2002;20:1651–6.
Greco FA, Burris HA, Erland JB, et al. Carcinoma of unknown primary site. Cancer. 2000;89:2655–60.
Greco FA, Rodriguez GI, Shaffer DW, et al. Carcinoma of unknown primary site: sequential treatment with paclitaxel/carboplatin/etoposide and gemcitabine/irinotecan: a Minnie Pearl Cancer Research Network phase II trial. Oncologist. 2004;9:644–52.
Greco FA, Erland JB, Morrissey LH, et al. Carcinoma of unknown primary site: phase II trials with docetaxel plus cisplatin or carboplatin. Ann Oncol. 2000;11:211–5.
Mylona S, Stroumpouli E, Pomoni M, Galani P, Ntai S, Thanos L. Radiofrequency ablation of liver metastases from cancer of unknown primary site. Diagn Interv Radiol. 2009;15:297–302.
Pavlidis N, Fizazi K. Cancer of unknown primary (CUP). Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2009;69:271–8.
Pasterz R, Savaraj N, Burgess M. Prognostic factors in metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary. J Clin Oncol. 1986;4:1652–7.
Seve P, Coquard IR, Lenoir VT, et al. Low serum albumin levels and liver metastasis are powerful prognostic markers for survival in patients with carcinomas of unknown primary site. Cancer. 2006;107:2698–705.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Financial support
Authors had no additional financial support or national funding for this study.
Conflict of interest
None of the authors has any proprietary interests or conflicts of interest related to this submission.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Algin, E., Ozet, A., Gumusay, O. et al. Liver metastases from adenocarcinomas of unknown primary site: management and prognosis in 68 consecutive patients. Wien Klin Wochenschr 128, 42–47 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-015-0858-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-015-0858-8