Comprehensive genomic profiling of patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP).

e15188 Background: Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) remains a clinical entity with limited standardized treatment options. However, recent studies have demonstrated that broad next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels provide clinically meaningful insights, enabling identification of actionable genomic alterations, refinement of tissue-of-origin hypotheses, and improved therapeutic stratification. A substantial proportion of CUP tumors harbor potentially targetable alterations, and a subset exhibits high tumor mutational burden (TMB-H) and/or high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) status. In this study, we assessed the clinical utility of comprehensive genomic profiling panels in CUP cases. Methods: Overall, 103 patients were analysed, including 74 tissue-based and 29 liquid biopsy cases. Matched leukocyte DNA was used to exclude clonal hematopoiesis–related variants. Targeted-capture NGS analysis was performed using two CE-IVD GenePlus assays covering 1021 cancer-related genes and 38 fusion genes, with integrated assessment of TMB and MSI. Sequencing was carried out on an MGI sequencing platform (DNBSEQ-T7). Results: NGS analysis revealed that 29% (30/103) of patients derived clinical benefit from pan-cancer biomarkers. Specifically, BRAF V600 mutations were detected in 5 cases, indicating sensitivity to BRAF/MEK inhibitors. TMB ≥10 muts/Mb was observed in 19 tissue samples, while TMB ≥16 muts/Mb was identified in 4 liquid biopsy samples, both suggesting eligibility for immunotherapy. Additionally, 2 cases were also MSI-H, supporting potential response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Genomic alterations with potential relevance for off-label targeted therapy were identified in 30% of patients. The most frequently mutated gene was KRAS (18 pts), indicating potential sensitivity to KRAS/MEK inhibitors. Additional alterations were observed in PIK3CA/PTEN, ERBB2, IDH, FGFR2 (fusion), and homologous recombination deficiency–related genes (BRCA2, ATM, BAP1), suggesting possible responsiveness to PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors, ERBB2-directed therapies, IDH, FGFR and PARP inhibitors, respectively. Finally, 29% of the patients were considered eligible for clinical trial enrolment, based on their molecular profiles. Conclusions: Therapeutically relevant molecular profiling results were identified in 59% of CUP patients. These findings support the integration of molecular profiling into routine CUP evaluation, facilitating biomarker-driven precision oncology strategies aimed at improving patient outcomes.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Published
2026-05-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2026.44.16_suppl.e15188
Primary Topic
Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
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article
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article

Comprehensive genomic profiling of patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP).

Eirini Papadopoulou, Athanasios Karampeazis, Nektarios Alevizopoulos, İlhan Hacıbekiroğlu et al.
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
article

Comprehensive genomic profiling of patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP).

Eirini Papadopoulou, Athanasios Karampeazis, Nektarios Alevizopoulos, İlhan Hacıbekiroğlu, Ilias Athanasiadis, Stefanos Dimoudis, İlker Ökten, Panagiotis J. Vlachostergios, Mircea Dediu, Aikaterini Tsantikidi, Eleni Thanou, Νικόλαος Τσούλος, Syed Karim, GEORGE NASIOULAS, Hady Ghanem, Georges El Hachem, Chrysiida Chatzigiannidou-Florou, Maria Kaparelou, Giannis S. Mountzios, Amanda Psyrri
article en

Abstract

e15188 Background: Carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) remains a clinical entity with limited standardized treatment options. However, recent studies have demonstrated that broad next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels provide clinically meaningful insights, enabling identification of actionable genomic alterations, refinement of tissue-of-origin hypotheses, and improved therapeutic stratification. A substantial proportion of CUP tumors harbor potentially targetable alterations, and a subset exhibits high tumor mutational burden (TMB-H) and/or high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) status. In this study, we assessed the clinical utility of comprehensive genomic profiling panels in CUP cases. Methods: Overall, 103 patients were analysed, including 74 tissue-based and 29 liquid biopsy cases. Matched leukocyte DNA was used to exclude clonal hematopoiesis–related variants. Targeted-capture NGS analysis was performed using two CE-IVD GenePlus assays covering 1021 cancer-related genes and 38 fusion genes, with integrated assessment of TMB and MSI. Sequencing was carried out on an MGI sequencing platform (DNBSEQ-T7). Results: NGS analysis revealed that 29% (30/103) of patients derived clinical benefit from pan-cancer biomarkers. Specifically, BRAF V600 mutations were detected in 5 cases, indicating sensitivity to BRAF/MEK inhibitors. TMB ≥10 muts/Mb was observed in 19 tissue samples, while TMB ≥16 muts/Mb was identified in 4 liquid biopsy samples, both suggesting eligibility for immunotherapy. Additionally, 2 cases were also MSI-H, supporting potential response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Genomic alterations with potential relevance for off-label targeted therapy were identified in 30% of patients. The most frequently mutated gene was KRAS (18 pts), indicating potential sensitivity to KRAS/MEK inhibitors. Additional alterations were observed in PIK3CA/PTEN, ERBB2, IDH, FGFR2 (fusion), and homologous recombination deficiency–related genes (BRCA2, ATM, BAP1), suggesting possible responsiveness to PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors, ERBB2-directed therapies, IDH, FGFR and PARP inhibitors, respectively. Finally, 29% of the patients were considered eligible for clinical trial enrolment, based on their molecular profiles. Conclusions: Therapeutically relevant molecular profiling results were identified in 59% of CUP patients. These findings support the integration of molecular profiling into routine CUP evaluation, facilitating biomarker-driven precision oncology strategies aimed at improving patient outcomes.

Journal of Clinical OncologyVol. 44(16_suppl)
Sakarya University (TR), University of Dubai (AE), National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR), Cornell University (US), Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest (RO), University Medical Center Rizk Hospital (LB), Interbalkan Medical Center (GR), Saint George Hospital (LB), 401 General Military Hospital of Athens (GR), Alexandra Hospital (GR), Kampakas (Greece) (GR), Mitera Hospital (GR), Athens Medical Center (GR), Acıbadem Kadıköy Hospital (TR), Henry Dunant Hospital (GR), Evangelismos Hospital (GR)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
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