Chemotherapy and caroplatin paclitaxel for thymic cancer

The thymus is a small organ located in the upper/front portion of your chest, extending from the base of the throat to the front of the heart. Thymic carcinomas are divided into low-grade (better prognosis) and high-grade (worse prognosis, that is, more likely to grow and spread quickly) categories. Around 25% of people with thymic carcinoma are cured.

Low-grade thymic carcinomas include well-differentiated squamous cell, mucoepidermoid, and basaloid types. High-grade thymic carcinomas include poorly differentiated squamous cell, small cell/neuroendocrine, clear cell, anaplastic/undifferentiated, and sarcomatoid types.

Several anticancer drugs have been used in the treatment of thymomas and thymic carcinomas. However, because thymic carcinoma is a rare neoplasm, treatment with chemotherapy has not been studied systematically. based on cse reprots and series, the drugs most effective when given alone are doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cisplatin, ifosfamide, and corticosteroids (prednisone). Often, these drugs are given in combination to increase their effectiveness. Combinations used to treat thymic cancer include cisplatin, doxorubicin, etoposide and cyclophosphamide, and the combination of cisplatin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine. Carboplatin is in phase II study, NCT00010257, with paclitaxel,

Although there is a paucity of information, one might consider singe agents or combianations that have been well-documented for therapy. However, carboplatin is not well documented and considering the state of knowledge about chemo in general and especially about carboplatin, as well as that it is either on a study or off-study but the combination is being studied, I conclude that this combiantion is experimental.

A. Kitami, T. Suzuki, Y. Kamio, and S. Suzuki
Chemotherapy of Thymic Carcinoma: Analysis of Seven Cases and Review of the Literature
Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol., December 1, 2001; 31(12): 601 - 604.

M. A. Greene and M. A. Malias
Aggressive multimodality treatment of invasive thymic carcinoma
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., February 1, 2003; 125(2): 434 - 436.