[Medical treatment for thymoma: an update]

Clin Ter. 2008 Mar-Apr;159(2):91-5.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

Stage of disease at diagnosis and histologic type according to WHO classification are the most important prognostic factors for thymoma and complete surgical resection represents a crucial point for disease free survival. When surgery is not feasible, neoadjuvant or palliative chemotherapy, is the most appropriate treatment because of the high chemosensitivity of the thymoma. The role of predictive factors to response of treatment seems relevant: the presence of modifications of tumor related genes and expression of different thymoma cell receptors could allow to identify subsets of patients who can benefit from target therapies, with the aim of optimizing treatments and improving survival.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cisplatin
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Doxorubicin
  • Etoposide
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Proteins / analysis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Palliative Care
  • Thymectomy
  • Thymoma / complications
  • Thymoma / drug therapy*
  • Thymoma / genetics
  • Thymoma / pathology
  • Thymoma / radiotherapy
  • Thymoma / surgery
  • Thymus Neoplasms / complications
  • Thymus Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / genetics
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thymus Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Thymus Neoplasms / surgery
  • Vincristine

Substances

  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Vincristine
  • Etoposide
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Cisplatin

Supplementary concepts

  • ADOC protocol
  • CAE-P protocol
  • CISCA protocol
  • VP-P protocol