Enabling Genomic Testing in Cancer of Unknown Primary
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Gene panel array, Blood Sample Collection.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Cancer of Unknown Primary, Neoplasm, Unknown Primary. Basic parameters: from 16 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- United Kingdom
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Overview
Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) is where cancer cells are found in the body but the place the cancer began is not known. It is the 6th leading cause of cancer death in the UK and the prognosis is poor with a median survival of 6-9 months. There is a higher than average incidence of CUP in the North West (NW) of England (population of 7.4 million). Precision medicine has transformed treatment strategies in known tumour types, however in CUP there remains an urgent need to better understand CUP molecular characteristics to establish potential roles for novel therapeutic strategies. Treatment options remain limited due to difficulties in determining the primary site of the tumour and the lack of access to validated biomarkers. Access to good-quality tissue for molecular profiling remains a huge challenge in CUP. The emergence of liquid biopsies (sequence DNA in a blood test) as a source of biomarkers is also gaining rapid ground and this study aims to explore the potential utility of liquid biopsies in CUP.
Interventions
- Diagnostic test Gene panel array
Blood sample collection for gene panel testing - Other Blood Sample Collection
Blood sample collection for research purposes
Primary outcome measures
- Evaluate the utility of cfDNA molecular profiling in patients diagnosed with CUP [Time frame: 33 months of recruitment + 12 months follow up period or 1 December 2027 whichever comes first]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Data collection repository of readily available information on trails/treatments for patients diagnosed with CUP [Time frame: 33 months of recruitment + 12 months follow up period or 1 December 2027 whichever comes first]
- Incorporate molecular genomics into routine practice [Time frame: 33 months of recruitment + 12 months follow up period or 1 December 2027 whichever comes first]
- Document and feedback genomic results to treating team and patients [Time frame: 33 months of recruitment + 12 months follow up period or 1 December 2027 whichever comes first]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Aged 16 years or over
- Written informed consent according to ICH/GCP and national regulations
- ECOG Performance status 0-2
- Confirmed diagnosis of CUP as per the ESMO guidelines. Patients must have;
- The local pathology reports confirming compatibility with CUP diagnosis and the associated slides used for the diagnosis
- Discussion at a local CUP MDT confirming diagnosis
- Availability of archival tumour histological report
- Willingness to provide blood samples on up to two occasions during the study
Exclusion criteria
- Patient with an immunohistochemistry profile that provides a definitive clinical indication of a primary cancer with a specific treatment
- Known HIV, Hepatitis B, C positive, due to the difficulties in handling high-risk specimens
- Patients who are unable to provide fully informed written consent
- Presence of any medical, psychological, familial or sociological condition that, in the investigator's opinion, will hamper compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule
- Bleeding diathesis (patients' on anticoagulation are permitted to enter the trial if anticoagulation can be safely managed to enable blood sampling)
- Conditions in which blood sampling may increase risk of complications for the patients and/or investigator
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
United Kingdom · 6 centers
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust — Manchester
- The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust — Liverpool
- Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — Blackpool
- Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust — Manchester
- University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust — Morecambe
- Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — Preston
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06695494 · CFTSp213 · ISRCTN42910771