Applications

1809 – Genomic testing in cancer of unknown primary (CUP) and diagnostically challenging cancers

Find out about the service or technology in this application and the medical condition it addresses. You can also view the application documents, the deadlines for providing consultation input and the outcome of the application when the MSAC process is complete.

  • Status Pre-assessment
  • Type New application
  • Pre-PASC consultation Open
  • Pre-MSAC consultation -
  • Outcome Pending

Application details

Applicant

The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia & The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Reason for application

New Medicare Benefits Schedule item.

Service or technology in this application

Genomic testing can examine cancer DNA to uncover clues about the origin of the primary tumour and the specific genetic changes driving the cancer growth and spread. By analysing genetic patterns in cancer, doctors may be able to predict the primary tissue it came from and identify variants that may respond to targeted therapies. While genomic testing doesn't always provide a clear answer, it has improved the chances of finding personalised and effective treatment options for people with cancer of unknown primary (CUP) and diagnostically challenging cancers.

Type: Investigative

Medical condition this application addresses

CUP is a type of metastatic cancer where tumour cells detach from a primary tumour site and spread to surrounding tissues and distant secondary anatomical locations. When a patient presents with symptoms at these secondary sites, standard clinical and pathological investigations are conducted to determine the primary cancer site. If these investigations fail to detect the primary cancer, the patient is diagnosed with CUP. This condition usually presents as advanced disease, requiring systemic treatment, and typically has a poor prognosis.

Consultation survey and deadlines

The following consultation deadlines apply:

  • Pre-PASC consultation deadline: Friday 7 November 2025 11:59pm AEDT
  • Pre-MSAC consultation deadline: 

Input received after the pre-PASC deadline will be considered by MSAC.

For other ways to provide input, see how to have your say.

We welcome input from everyone. We are especially keen to hear from those with lived experience of the health condition, service or technology the applications are addressing.

Find out more about consultation.

Meetings to consider this application

This application will be considered at the following meetings:

  • PASC meeting: 11 to12 December 2025
  • ESC meeting:
  • MSAC meeting: 

Find out more about our meetings.

Outcome details

The outcome of this application is pending.

More information

Find out more about: