[Surprisingly positive effect of palliative CAP chemotherapy of bone-disseminated, undifferentiated carcinoma of unknown primary origin in patient with low performance status according to WHO].

The paper presents the case of a 58-year old male with low performance status (3 according to WHO) diagnosed with bone-disseminated, undifferentiated carcinoma of unknown primary origin in April 2001. The patient was given reduced dosage CAP chemotherapy (cisplatin 40 mg/m2, doxorubicin 40 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 40 mg/m2, every 21 days). A total number of 12 treatment courses were administered, reaching summary admissible dosage of doxorubicin. The patient's condition improved in the course of treatment - pain symptoms and levels of tumor biomarkers decreased significantly, while performance status increased. Chemotherapy was completed in December 2001. Patient status was stabile till March 2004. Presently the level of tumor biomarkers are increasing but it is not accompanied with metastasis or primary focus manifestation. Although the described patient undoubtedly belonged to the group with poor prognosis, the treatment applied resulted with surprisingly positive effect.