Chemotherapy and targeted agents for thymic malignancies

Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2012 May;12(5):685-95. doi: 10.1586/era.12.29.

Abstract

Thymic malignancies are rare epithelial tumors that may be aggressive and difficult to treat. Thymomas are usually localized to the anterior mediastinum and are frequently eligible for upfront surgical resection. However, nearly 30% of patients present with locally advanced tumors at time of diagnosis, and chemotherapy is then used to reduce the tumor burden, possibly allowing subsequent surgery and/or radiotherapy. Metastatic and recurrent thymic malignancies may similarly be treated with chemotherapy. More recently, the molecular characterization of thymoma and thymic carcinoma led to the identification of potentially druggable targets, laying the foundations to implement personalized medicine for patients.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Chemoradiotherapy
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Consolidation Chemotherapy
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Neoplasm Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / metabolism
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Thymus Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thymus Neoplasms / therapy

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1