An observational study in Unknown Primary Tumors and DNA Methylation, sponsored by Sun Yat-sen University. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-23.
Sponsored by Sun Yat-sen University · Observational
This study aims to initially utilize machine learning on pan-cancer DNA methylation data from public databases to construct a DNA methylation classification model (PaCIFiC-CUP, pan-cancer integrated fingerprinting classifier of CUP) for diagnosing various types of cancer, particularly the primary site of cancer of unknown primary. The goal is to achieve diagnosis of cancer pathology type by analyzing the DNA methylation patterns of cancer specimens, thereby guiding subsequent precision treatment for cancer.
101 studies on the registry are indexed under Neoplasms, Unknown Primary; 19 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 120 is close to the median of 125 across 25 observational studies indexed under Neoplasms, Unknown Primary.
Browse Neoplasms, Unknown Primary studies →Sun Yat-sen University is the lead sponsor of 1,690 studies on the registry; 619 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
The study population consists of patients diagnosed with CUP who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.
Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
ECOG performance status
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Biopsy and archival tissue
A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.
Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
These patients with cancer of unknown primary received site-specific therapy that matched the particular site predicted by the DNA methylation classifier.
These patients with cancer of unknown primary received empirical therapy that didn't match the particular site predicted by the DNA methylation classifier.
Overall Survival
Overall survival refers to the length of time that a person lives after being diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary, without regard to any specific cause of death.
Time frame: From date of diagnosis until the date of death from any cause, assessed up to 24 months
Progression-Free Survival
Progression-Free Survival refers to the length of time during which a patient with cancer of unknown primary remains alive without any signs or symptoms of disease progression
Time frame: From date of diagnosis until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 24 months
Plan to share: No
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.