Targeted therapy for advanced thymic tumors

J Thorac Oncol. 2010 Oct;5(10 Suppl 4):S361-4. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0b013e3181f21114.

Abstract

The use of targeted therapies for the treatment of thymic malignancies is documented in the literature. However, only a few drugs have undergone evaluation in phase II trials. Most of the evidence for the benefit of biologic therapies for thymic malignancies is in the form of case reports and small case series. No major activity has been observed with any agent so far, likely due to the lack of selection of patients for targeted therapies and the small numbers studied. A better understanding of the biology of these tumors will be essential in furthering the field.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism
  • Prognosis
  • Thymoma / drug therapy*
  • Thymoma / genetics
  • Thymoma / metabolism
  • Thymus Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / genetics
  • Thymus Neoplasms / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Neoplasm Proteins