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NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology™
Occult Primary
(Cancer of Unknown
Primary [CUP])
V.1.2010
www.nccn.org
Version 1.2010, 11/02/09 © 2009 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. All rights reserved. These guidelines and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN.
Practice Guidelines
in Oncology – v.1.2010
Guidelines Index
Occult Primary Table of Contents
Discussion, ReferencesNCCN
®
NCCN Occult Primary Panel Members
David S. Ettinger, MD/Chair †
The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive
Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Mark Agulnik, MD †
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer
Center of Northwestern University
Mihaela Cristea, MD †
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer
Center
Keith Eaton, MD, PhD †
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Panagiotis M. Fidias, MD ¶ †
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer
Center
David Gierada, MD
Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-
Jewish Hospital and Washington
University School of Medicine
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Asif Rashid, MD, PhD
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
Cancer Center
Leonard Saltz, MD † ‡
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Lawrence N. Shulman, MD ‡
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s
Cancer Center
Jonathan S. Zager, MD ¶
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research
Institute
Weining Zhen, MD §
UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at The
Nebraska Medical Center
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Gauri Varadhachary, MD †
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
Cancer Center
Mary Kay Washington, MD, PhD
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
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*
† Medical Oncology
* Writing committee member
‡ Hematology/Hematology Oncology
Pathology
§ Radiotherapy/Radiation Oncology
Diagnostic Radiology
¶ Surgery/Surgical Oncology
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Jon P. Gockerman, MD † ‡
Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center
Omar Hameed, MD
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Comprehensive Cancer Center
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Charles Handorf, MD, PhD
St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital/University of Tennessee
Cancer Institute
Charlotte D. Jacobs, MD †
Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center
Nikhil I. Khushalani, MD †
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Larry Kvols, MD †
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center &
Research Institute
Renato Lenzi, MD † ‡
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson
Cancer Center
�
NCCN Guidelines Panel Disclosures
Occult Primary
Version 1.2010, 11/02/09 © 2009 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. All rights reserved. These guidelines and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN.
Practice Guidelines
in Oncology – v.1.2010
Guidelines Index
Occult Primary Table of Contents
Discussion, ReferencesNCCN
®
These guidelines are a statement of evidence and consensus of the authors regarding their views of currently accepted approaches to treatment.
Any clinician seeking to apply or consult these guidelines is expected to use independent medical judgment in the context of individual clinical
circumstances to determine any patient’s care or treatment. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network makes no representations or warranties
of any kind regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. These guidelines are
copyrighted by National Comprehensive Cancer Network. All rights reserved. These guidelines and the illustrations herein may not be reproduced in
any form without the express written permission of NCCN. ©2009
Table of Contents
NCCN Occult Primary Panel Members
Initial Evaluation (OCC-1
Epithelial Occult Primaries (OCC-2
Adenocarcinoma or Carcinoma Not Otherwise Specified (OCC-3
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OCC-11
Neuroendocrine Tumors (OCC-16
Follow-up for All Occult Primaries (OCC-20
Immunohistochemistry Markers for Unknown Primary Cancers (OCC-A
Principles of Chemotherapy (OCC-B
Guidelines Index
Print the Occult Primary Guideline
Summary of the Guidelines Updates
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Clinical Trials:
Categories of Evidence and
Consensus:
NCCN
The
believes that the best management
for any cancer patient is in a clinical
trial. Participation in clinical trials is
especially encouraged.
To find clinical trials online at NCCN
member institutions,
All recommendations
are Category 2A unless otherwise
specified.
See
NCCN
click here:
nccn.org/clinical_trials/physician.html
NCCN Categories of Evidence
and Consensus
For help using these
documents, please click here
Discussion
References
Occult Primary
(Cancer of Unknown Primary [CUP])
Version 1.2010, 11/02/09 © 2009 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. All rights reserved. These guidelines and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN.
Practice Guidelines
in Oncology – v.1.2010
Guidelines Index
Occult Primary Table of Contents
Discussion, ReferencesNCCN
®
Summary of the Guidelines Updates
OCC-1
OCC-3
OCC-5
OCC-8
OCC-9
OCC-17
OCC-20
OCC-B
OCC-6
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Under initial evaluation, “chest/abdominal/pelvic CT scan” was
added and “chest x-ray” was removed.
Under workup, “preferred” was added to core needle biopsy.
Additional workup for supraclavicular nodes, “if not done” was
added to “neck/chest/abdominal/pelvic CT scan”.
Additional workup for retroperitonal mass, “consider upper
endoscopy” was added.
Additional workup for inguinal nodes, “proctoscopy if clinically
indicated” was added and “cytoscopy” was removed.
Additional workup for liver, “upper and/or lower endoscopy”
was added.
Additional workup, bullet regarding mammogram was clarified
as, “Mammogram/breast ultrasound; if negative and
histopathologic evidence for breast cancer, breast MRI
indicated” throughout the guidelines.
if PET-CT scan not previously
done” was added to “bone scan”. Also for bone on OCC-11.
Axillary for men, “consider RT if 2 lymph nodes positive or
extra capsular extension, ± subsequent chemotherapy was
clarified as “consider RT if clinically indicated ± chemotherapy.”
Also for inguinal node, both unilateral and bilateral on OCC-10,
for axillary, localized on OCC-13 and inguinal node, both
unilateral and bilateral on OCC-15.
Footnotes g, “PET-CT scan can be useful in the diagnosis of an
occult primary mediastinal adenocarcinoma” was added to the
page.
Lung nodules, “If resectable, consider surgery” was added as a
management option.
Neuroendocrine tumor descriptor, “high-grade” was clarified as
“Poorly differentiated (high grade or anaplastic) or small cell
subtype other than lung.” Also for OCC-18 and OCC-19.
Follow-up for all occult primaries was clarified as “H&P every
3-6 mo for first 3 y, then as indicated”.
Principles of chemotherapy, the performance status (PS) was
clarified as PS 1-2 for considering chemotherapy in symptomatic
patients.
Neuroendocrine tumor regimens were replaced with links to
appropriate NCCN guidelines, “For poorly differentiated (high
grade or anaplastic) or small cell subtype other than lung
neuroendocrine tumors, see NCCN Small Cell Lung Guidelines”
and “For moderate and well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors,
see NCCN Neuroendocrine Tumors Guidelines-Carcinoid
Tumors”.
The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance
status was defined and added to the page.
Additional workup for bone, “
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UPDATES
Note: All recommendations are category 2A unless otherwise indicated.
Clinical Trials: NCCN believes that the best management of any cancer patient is in a clinical trial. Participation in clinical trials is especially encouraged.
Summary of changes in the 1.2010 version of the Occult Primary Guidelines from the 1.2009 version include:
Occult Primary
Version 1.2010, 11/02/09 © 2009 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. All rights reserved. These guidelines and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN.
Practice Guidelines
in Oncology – v.1.2010
Guidelines Index
Occult Primary Table of Contents
Discussion, ReferencesNCCN
®
Note: All recommendations are category 2A unless otherwise indicated.
Clinical Trials: NCCN believes that the best management of any cancer patient is in a clinical trial. Participation in clinical trials is especially encouraged.
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Complete H&P, including
breast, genitourinary,
pelvic, and rectal exam,
with attention to and
review of:
Past biopsies or
malignancies
Removed lesions
Spontaneously
regressing lesions
Existing imaging studies
CBC
Electrolytes
Liver function tests
Creatinine
Calcium
Urinalysis
bdominal/pelvic CT
scan
Hemoccult
Symptom directed
endoscopy
PET-CT scan (category 2B)
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Chest/a
b
INITIAL EVALUATION PATHOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS
Biopsy:
Core needle biopsy
(preferred)
FNA
Most accessible site
Consult pathologist
for adequacy of
specimen and
additional studies
including
immunohistochemical
stains
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and/or
c
Epithelial; not
site specific
Melanoma
Sarcoma
Germ-cell
Nonmalignant
diagnosis
Suspected
metastatic
malignancya
Lymphoma and
other hematologic
malignancies
See Clinical
Presentation
(OCC-2)
See NCCN
Guidelines Table
of Contents
See NCCN Melanoma
Guidelines
See NCCN Soft Tissue
Sarcoma Guidelines
Further evaluation
and
Appropriate follow-up
See NCCN Testicular
Cancer Guidelines
Thyroid See NCCN Thyroid
Carcinoma Guidelines
OCC-1
a
b
c
For many patients the apparent uncertainties surrounding the diagnosis of an unknown primary cancer may result in significant psychosocial distress and increased
difficulty in accepting treatment options. Empathetic discussion about the natural history of these types of cancer and their prognosis, and the provision of support
and counseling both by the primary oncology team and specialized services may help to alleviate this distress. .
Many patients are referr be warranted in some situations, even in patients with
unknown primary, especially when considering local/regional therapy.
.
See NCCN Distress Management Guidelines
See Immunohistochemistry Markers for Unknown Primary Cancers (OCC-A)
ed with PET-CT scans. Routine use is not recommended. PET-CT scans may
WORKUP
Occult Primary
Version 1.2010, 11/02/09 © 2009 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. All rights reserved. These guidelines and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN.
Practice Guidelines
in Oncology – v.1.2010
Guidelines Index
Occult Primary Table of Contents
Discussion, ReferencesNCCN
®
Note: All recommendations are category 2A unless otherwise indicated.
Clinical Trials: NCCN believes that the best management of any cancer patient is in a clinical trial. Participation in clinical trials is especially encouraged.
Epithelial;
not site
specific
CLINICAL
PRESENTATION
Squamous cell carcinoma
Neuroendocrine tumor
See Clinical
Presentation (OCC-11)
See Clinical
Presentation (OCC-16)
Adenocarcinoma
or
Carcinoma not
otherwise specified
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Cervical nodes
Supraclavicular nodes
Axillary nodes
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Mediastinum
Chest (multiple nodules)
or pleural effusions
Peritoneal
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Retroperitoneal mass
Inguinal nodes
Liver
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Bone
Brain
Multiple, including skin
See Clinical
Presentation (OCC-3)
See Clinical
Presentation (OCC-4)
See Clinical
Presentation (OCC-5)
See Clinical
Presentation (OCC-6)
OCC-2
PATHOLOGIC DIAGNOSIS
Occult Primary
Version 1.2010, 11/02/09 © 2009 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. All rights reserved. These guidelines and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN.
Practice Guidelines
in Oncology – v.1.2010
Guidelines Index
Occult Primary Table of Contents
Discussion, ReferencesNCCN
®
Note: All recommendations are category 2A unless otherwise indicated.
Clinical Trials: NCCN believes that the best management of any cancer patient is in a clinical trial. Participation in clinical trials is especially encouraged.
Adenocarcinoma
or
Carcinoma not
otherwise specified
Cervical nodes
Supraclavicular
nodes
Men and women:
Neck/chest/abdominal/pelvic CT (if not done)
Consider symptom directed endoscopy
Women:
Attention to appropriate
(eg, ER/PR, HER2)
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Mammogram/breast ultrasound; if negative and
histopathologic evidence for breast cancer,
breast MRI indicated
immunohistochemistry
Men:
> 40 y: PSA
d
Axillary nodes
Men and women:
Chest/abdominal CT
Women:
Attention to appropriate immunohistochemistry
(eg, ER/PR, HER2)
Men:
> 40 y: PSA
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Mammogram/breast ultrasound; if negative and
histopathologic evidence for breast cancer,
breast MRI indicated
d
See NCCN Head and Neck-
Occult Primary Guidelines
ADDITIONAL WORKUP
See Management
Based on Workup
Findings (OCC-7)
CLINICAL
PRESENTATION
OCC-3
dAn expanded panel of immunohistochemical markers may be used as appropriate. See Immunohistochemistry Markers for Unknown Primary Cancers (OCC-A).
Occult Primary
Version 1.2010, 11/02/09 © 2009 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. All rights reserved. These guidelines and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN.
Practice Guidelines
in Oncology – v.1.2010
Guidelines Index
Occult Primary Table of Contents
Discussion, ReferencesNCCN
®
Note: All recommendations are category 2A unless otherwise indicated.
Clinical Trials: NCCN believes that the best management of any cancer patient is in a clinical trial. Participation in clinical trials is especially encouraged.
ADDITIONAL WORKUP
Adenocarcinoma
or
Carcinoma not
otherwise specified
Mediastinum
Chest
(multiple nodules)
or
Pleural effusion
Peritoneal
Men and women:
Chest/abdominal/pelvic CT
Beta-hCG, alpha-fetoprotein
Women:
ER/PR immunohistochemistry
Men:
> 40 y: PSA
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Mammogram/breast ultrasound; if negative and histopathologic
evidence for breast cancer, breast MRI indicated
Testicular ultrasound, if beta-hCG and alpha-fetoprotein
markers elevated
d
Men and women:
Women:
CA-125
ER/PR immunohistochemistry
Consider gynecologic oncologist consult if clinically indicated
Mammogram/breast ultrasound; if negative
breast
Men:
> 40 y: PSA
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Chest/abdominal/pelvic CT
and histopathologic
evidence for breast cancer, MRI indicated
d
Men and women:
Chest/abdominal/pelvic CT
Urine cytology; cystoscopy if suspicious
CA-125
ER/PR immunohistochemistry
breast ultrasound; if negative and histopathologic
evidence for breast cancer, breast MRI indicated
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Women:
d
Mammogram/
Gynecologic oncologist consult
Men:
> 40 y: PSA
See Management
Based on Workup
Findings (OCC-7)
OCC-4
CLINICAL
PRESENTATION
dAn expanded panel of immunohistochemical markers may be used as appropriate. See Immunohistochemistry Markers for Unknown Primary Cancers (OCC-A).
Occult Primary
Version 1.2010, 11/02/09 © 2009 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. All rights reserved. These guidelines and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN.
Practice Guidelines
in Oncology – v.1.2010
Guidelines Index
Occult Primary Table of Contents
Discussion, ReferencesNCCN
®
Note: All recommendations are category 2A unless otherwise indicated.
Clinical Trials: NCCN believes that the best management of any cancer patient is in a clinical trial. Participation in clinical trials is especially encouraged.
Retroperitoneal
mass
Inguinal
nodes
Liver
Men and Women:
Chest/abdominal/pelvic CT
Urine cytology; consider cystoscopy if suspicious
Consider upper endoscopy
Women:
Men:
> 40 y: PSA
< 65 y: Beta-hCG, alpha-fetoprotein, testicular
ultrasound if markers elevated
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CA-125
ER/PR immunohistochemistry
Mammogram/breast ultrasound; if negative and
histopathologic evidence for breast cancer, breast
MRI indicated
Gynecologic oncologist consult if clinically indicated
d
Men and women:
Women:
CA-125
Gynecologic oncologist consult
Men:
> 40 y: PSA
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Abdominal/pelvic CT
Proctoscopy if clinically indicated
Men and women:
Chest/abdominal/pelvic CT
Colonoscopy
Upper and/or lower endoscopy
Alpha-fetoprotein (category 2B)
Women:
Mammogram/breast ultrasound; if negative and
histopathologic evidence for breast cancer, breast
MRI indicated
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ER/PR immunohistochemistryd
Adenocarcinoma
or
Carcinoma not
otherwise specified
See Management
Based on Workup
Findings (OCC-7)
OCC-5
ADDITIONAL WORKUPCLINICAL
PRESENTATION
dAn expanded panel of immunohistochemical markers may be used as appropriate. See Immunohistochemistry Markers for Unknown Primary Cancers (OCC-A).
Occult Primary
Version 1.2010, 11/02/09 © 2009 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. All rights reserved. These guidelines and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN.
Practice Guidelines
in Oncology – v.1.2010
Guidelines Index
Occult Primary Table of Contents
Discussion, ReferencesNCCN
®
Note: All recommendations are category 2A unless otherwise indicated.
Clinical Trials: NCCN believes that the best management of any cancer patient is in a clinical trial. Participation in clinical trials is especially encouraged.
Bone
Brain
Multiple,
including skin
Men and women:
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Bone scan (if PET-CT scan not previously done)
Radiographic studies for painful lesions and/or
bone-scan–positive lesions and/or weight-
bearing areas
Chest/abdominal/pelvic CT
Women:
ER/PR immunohistochemistry
Men:
PSA
d
Mammogram/breast ultrasound, if negative and
histopathologic evidence for breast cancer,
breast MRI indicated
Men and women:
Chest/abdominal CT
Women:
ER/P
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See
for Primary Treatment of CNS
Metastatic Lesions
Mammogram/breast ultrasound, if negative and
histopathologic evidence for breast cancer,
breast MRI indicated
NCCN Cental Nervous System Cancers
Guidelines
R immunohistochemistryd
Men and women
Women:
ER/PR immunohistochemistry
Men:
PSA
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Chest/abdominal/pelvic CT
Mammogram/breast ultrasound, if negative and
histopathologic evidence for breast cancer,
breast MRI indicated
d
ADDITIONAL WORKUP
Adenocarcinoma
or
Carcinoma not
otherwise specified
See Management
Based on Workup
Findings (OCC-7)
CLINICAL
PRESENTATION
dAn expanded panel of immunohistochemical markers may be used as appropriate. See Immunohistochemistry Markers for Unknown Primary Cancers (OCC-A).
OCC-6
Occult Primary
Version 1.2010, 11/02/09 © 2009 National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. All rights reserved. These guidelines and this illustration may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of NCCN.
Practice Guidelines
in Oncology – v.1.2010
Guidelines Index
Occult Primary Table of Contents
Discussion, ReferencesNCCN
®
Note: All recommendations are category 2A unless otherwise indicated.
Clinical Trials: NCCN believes that the best management of any cancer patient is in a clinical trial. Participation in clinical trials is especially encouraged.
Primary found
Treat per NCCN disease-specific guidelines
NCCN Guidelines Table of Contents
Disseminated
metastasesa
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Symptom control
Clinical trial preferred
Consider chemotherapy on an individual basis
Specialized approaches
Mediastinal: Treat per
in young men (category 3)
e
f
NCCN Testicular Cancer
Guidelines
Localized
adenocarcinoma or
carcinoma not
otherwise specifieda
a
e
f
For many patients the apparent uncertainties surrounding the diagnosis of an unknown primary cancer may result in significant psychosocial
distress and increased difficulty in accepting treatment options. Empathetic discussion about the natural history