Epigenetic diagnosis for the primary tumors of unknown origin assessed by Spanish AETSA

In September 2019, the Andalusian Health Technology Assessment Department (AETSA) published an assessment report on the evaluation of epigenetic profiling to classify cancer of unknown origin in Spain.

This work aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of epigenetic diagnosis for the identification of the primary tumor in patients with tumors of unknown origin.

The following conclusions were provided by AETSA:

• Only one phase II diagnostic test study stated no alteration of the prediction depending on the method of preservation of the sample
• In the survival analysis performed on 216 patients, it was observed that people who received empirical therapy without taking into account the results of EPICUP had a three times higher risk of dying compared to those with specific treatment of the location of the primary tumor, adjusting due to possible confounding factors
• If future research with designs that minimize possible bias confirms the obtained results, this test could be a new diagnostic method for the identification of the primary tumor early, so that the derived problems would be avoided of the battery of diagnostic procedures and the toxicity of empirical treatments

See the full health technology assessment report in Spanish here.

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