XXXX of unknown primary origin: impact of chemotherapy on survival.

@entity1 @entity3329 @entity632 @entity5 @entity900 @entity786 @entity158 @entity420
Seventy-seven cases of @entity420 of unknown origin were studied retrospectively. @entity158 was the most common presenting symptom and @entity3329 was the most common finding on physical examination. @entity5 involved several organs in two thirds of the @entity1 , the lung being the most frequently involved. Complete surgical resection was possible in only four of 27 @entity1 with single organ involvement. All four @entity1 had lymph node dissections and remain free of disease after one to three years. Four @entity1 with @entity5 confined to the liver received infusion of antitumor agents through the hepatic artery which resulted in objective @entity5 regression in all, and regression of greater than 50% in two. Forty-three trials of systemic intravenous chemotherapy were administered to 38 @entity1 with nonresectable @entity5 resulting in greater than 50% @entity5 regression in eight. Responses were more frequent with regimens containing @entity632 plus either @entity786 or @entity900 . Median survival of all @entity1 in the study was 31 weeks. @entity1 who received chemotherapy survived significantly longer (median 41 vs 26 weeks, P = 0.005). Similarly, @entity1 who responded to chemotherapy survived significantly longer than nonresponders (median 54 vs 27 weeks, P less than 0.02). Our results indicate that early treatment of @entity1 with @entity420 of unknown origin improves their prognosis.
