Carcinoma of Unknown Origin

Treatment

Carcinomas of unknown origin can appear in many different parts of the body. Each patient's treatment at Mayo Clinic depends upon the cancer's location and the type of cells that make up the tumor. Treatment for carcinoma of unknown origin may include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, interventional procedures, and/or investigational treatment provided through clinical trials. Therapies are designed to provide patients with the best chance of long-term survival and even a cure whenever possible. Palliative care experts can provide care for patients with incurable cancer.

Surgery

If the carcinoma of unknown origin can be safely removed, surgery may be recommended. When that is the case, surgeons also often remove nearby lymph nodes to check for cancer. The surgical approach depends upon the site of the tumor. Surgeons will remove the entire tumor whenever possible. In some advanced cases, they are able to remove only a portion of the tumor (debulk).

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy involves the use of X-rays to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation oncologists at Mayo Clinic tailor each treatment to protect nearby normal tissue. Patients have access to the most advanced systems for treatment planning and delivery, including three-dimensional treatment planning, brachytherapy and Gamma Knife™.

Chemotherapy

Patients who receive chemotherapy may get a wide variety of drugs. A medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with medications, prescribes and administers chemotherapy. How patients receive the medications (for example, by mouth or intravenous solution) differs. Chemotherapy may be used alone or to help make other forms of treatment, such as radiation, more effective. Doctors work with patients to decide the best treatment approach among the available therapies.

Clinical Trials

Physicians at Mayo Clinic, as part of the North Central Cancer Treatment group, are conducting a clinical trial for the treatment of cancer of unknown origin. A patient with cancer of unknown origin who has previously received chemotherapy and has evidence that the tumor has continued to grow may be a candidate for a Phase I clinical trial which is testing new drugs and combinations of drugs to treat cancer.

Interventional Procedures

A variety of specialized approaches can be used to treat problems, such as pain, caused by the spread of cancer. Interventional radiologists at Mayo Clinic use techniques such as radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, hepatic artery (chemo) embolization, and placement of intravascular filters and stents. Those procedures increasingly help ease pain and improve the quality of life for patients.

Palliative Care

Mayo Clinic palliative care experts collaborate with primary care providers and with hospital patients who have limited treatment options for their cancers. The palliative care team enhances quality of life by addressing the patient's physical, mental, and spiritual issues to alleviate symptoms. Care providers work with family members and patients to foster a sense of personal control and relieve unnecessary suffering.