Optimal management of thymic malignancies: current perspectives.

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) belong to orphan oncology. The incidence of TETs is about 1.3-3.

Activation of the mTOR/ Akt pathway in thymic epithelial cells derived from thymomas.

The pathogenesis of thymic epithelial tumors remains poorly elucidated. The PIK3/Akt/mTOR pathway plays a key role in various cancers; interestingly, several phase I/II studies have reported a positive effect of mTOR inhibitors in disease control in thymoma patients. A major limit for deciphering cellular and molecular events leading to the transformation of thymic epithelial cells or for testing drug candidates is the lack of reliable in vitro cell system.

Cytoreductive Pleurectomy and Intrathoracic Chemohyperthermia for Pleural Relapse of Thymomas.

Several surgical procedures, from debulking to extrapleural pneumonectomy, may be applied for stage IVa Masaoka thymomas, but their efficiency is still controversial. Case studies have favored R resection as the cornerstone of multimodal therapy for locoregional metastatic extension. This report describes a standardized procedure combining a cytoreductive surgical procedure and intrathoracic chemohyperthermia on a 46-year-old patient presenting with B2 thymoma and synchronous unilateral pleural metastasis.

Chemotherapy and targeted agents for thymic malignancies.

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.

Thymoma: from chemotherapy to targeted therapy.

Thymic malignancies are rare epithelial tumors that may be aggressive and difficult to treat. Thymomas are frequently eligible for upfront surgical resection. However, nearly 30% of patients present with locally advanced tumor at time of diagnosis, and chemotherapy is then used to reduce the tumor burden-possibly allowing subsequent surgery and/or radiotherapy.