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Mimori T, Shukuya T, Ko R, Okuma Y, Koizumi T, Imai H, Takiguchi Y, Miyauchi E, Kagamu H, Sugiyama T, Azuma K, Namba Y, Yamasaki M, Tanaka H, Takashima Y, Soda S, Ishimoto O, Koyama N, Kobayashi K, Takahashi K. Clinical Significance of Tumor Markers for Advanced Thymic Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis from the NEJ023 Study. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020331. [PMID: 35053494 PMCID: PMC8773938 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Advanced thymic carcinoma (ATC) is rare. Owing to its rarity, there is limited information on the prognostic factors, and the optimal serum tumor markers are also unknown. We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective study of patients with ATC. In this study, we collected data on patient characteristics, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and tumor marker values, and investigated the relationship between tumor marker values and PFS/OS. We found that the neuron-specific enolase (NSE) level may be a useful prognostic tumor marker for ATC, regardless of histology. The findings of the analysis limited to squamous cell carcinoma suggested that the NSE and squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels may be useful prognostic factors. Abstract The optimal tumor marker for predicting the prognosis of advanced thymic carcinoma (ATC) remains unclear. We conducted a multi-institutional retrospective study of patients with ATC. A total of 286 patients were treated with chemotherapy. Clinicopathological information, including serum tumor markers, was evaluated to determine the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The carcinoembryonic antigen, cytokeratin-19 fragment, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) antigen, progastrin-releasing peptide, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and alpha-fetoprotein levels were evaluated. In the Kaplan–Meier analysis, the OS was significantly shorter in the patients with elevated NSE levels than in those with normal NSE levels (median, 20.3 vs. 36.8 months; log-rank test p = 0.029; hazard ratio (HR), 1.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05–2.31 (Cox proportional hazard model)); a similar tendency regarding the PFS was observed (median, 6.4 vs. 11.0 months; log-rank test p = 0.001; HR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.31–3.18). No significant differences in the OS and PFS were observed among the other tumor markers. In both univariate and multivariate analyses of the patients with SCC only, the NSE level was associated with the OS and PFS. Thus, the NSE level may be a prognostic tumor marker for thymic carcinoma, regardless of histology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoyasu Mimori
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan; (T.M.); (K.T.)
| | - Takehito Shukuya
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan; (T.M.); (K.T.)
- Correspondence: (T.S.); (R.K.)
| | - Ryo Ko
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka 411-8777, Japan
- Correspondence: (T.S.); (R.K.)
| | - Yusuke Okuma
- Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Disease Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo 113-8677, Japan;
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo 105-0045, Japan
| | - Tomonobu Koizumi
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan;
| | - Hisao Imai
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center, Ota 373-8550, Japan;
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Hidaka 350-1298, Japan; (H.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Yuichi Takiguchi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba 260-8677, Japan;
| | - Eisaku Miyauchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai 980-8574, Japan;
| | - Hiroshi Kagamu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Hidaka 350-1298, Japan; (H.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Tomohide Sugiyama
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, Tochigi Cancer Center, Utsunomiya 320-0834, Japan;
| | - Keisuke Azuma
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan;
| | - Yukiko Namba
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, Urayasu 279-0021, Japan;
| | - Masahiro Yamasaki
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Hiroshima Red Cross & Atomic-Bomb Survivors Hospital, Hiroshima 730-8619, Japan;
| | - Hisashi Tanaka
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki 036-8563, Japan;
| | - Yuta Takashima
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8648, Japan;
| | - Sayo Soda
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan;
| | - Osamu Ishimoto
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Sendai Kousei Hospital, Sendai 980-0873, Japan;
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Okino Medical Clinic, Miyagi 984-0831, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Koyama
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Clinical Department of Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center, Saitama 330-8503, Japan;
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Saitama 350-8550, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Kobayashi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Hidaka 350-1298, Japan; (H.K.); (K.K.)
| | - Kazuhisa Takahashi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan; (T.M.); (K.T.)
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Kaira K, Imai H, Yamaguchi O, Mouri A, Kagamu H. Salvage Chemotherapy in Patients with Previously Treated Thymic Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5441. [PMID: 34771601 PMCID: PMC8582353 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymic carcinoma is a rare neoplasm, and it is difficult to achieve complete remission with systemic chemotherapy. In advanced or recurrent thymic carcinoma, platinum-based chemotherapy is chosen as the first-line setting; however, it remains unclear which regimen is better to improve its outcome. It remains unknown whether salvage chemotherapy should be administered to patients with platinum-based chemotherapy-refractory thymic carcinoma. Currently, several clinical studies have investigated the efficacy of second-line settings for advanced thymic carcinoma. As cytotoxic agents, S-1, amrubicin, pemetrexed, docetaxel, paclitaxel, and gemcitabine have been reported as prospective phase II studies or retrospective studies. The overall response rates (ORRs) of S-1, amrubicin, and pemetrexed were 25-50%, 11-44.4%, and 9-10%, respectively. Molecular targeting drugs, such as sunitinib, everolimus, and lenvatinib, also provide clinical effectiveness with tolerability after the failure of platinum-based regimens. Based on the results of the prospective phase II study, the ORR, median progression-free survival, and median overall survival were 16.6% and 5.6 months, respectively, in everolimus, 26% and 7.2 months, respectively, in sunitinib, and 38% and 9.3 months, respectively, in lenvatinib. Although it is difficult to compare each study, lenvatinib appears to be better in increasing efficacy as a second-line setting. However, each study had a small sample size, which may have biased the results of their studies. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the therapeutic significance of salvage chemotherapy in advanced thymic carcinoma in a large-scale study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoichi Kaira
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center, International Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, 1397-1 Yamane, Hidaka 350-1298, Saitama, Japan; (H.I.); (O.Y.); (A.M.); (H.K.)
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Berghmans T, Durieux V, Holbrechts S, Jungels C, Lafitte JJ, Meert AP, Moretti L, Ocak S, Roelandts M, Girard N. Systemic treatments for thymoma and thymic carcinoma: A systematic review. Lung Cancer 2018; 126:25-31. [PMID: 30527189 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2018.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Thymic tumours are rare diseases that for most of the cases are cured with surgery and eventually adjuvant radiotherapy. However, about 30% of patients present with advanced stage or relapsing tumours, which require administration of chemotherapy. While cisplatin-adriamycin-cyclophosphamide combination is regularly prescribed, other drugs have been assessed in the literature. Our aim is to evaluate the effectiveness (response rate) of systemic treatments, whatever the therapeutic line, including chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapies, in thymoma and thymic carcinoma, using the principles of evidence-based medicine. A systematic review was designed using the PICO system, by an experienced librarian and clinicians' experts in thoracic oncology, through the Ovid Medline system. Only phase II-IV trials and retrospective studies including at least 14 patients treated with the same regimen were considered. Articles were independently selected by at least two investigators. Fifty-five eligible articles were retrieved. Sixty% were dealing with platinum-based regimens, mainly cisplatin, and showed overall similar activity (mostly response rate above 50%) independently of the line of treatment or histological type (thymoma versus thymic carcinoma). Non-platinum based regimens included octreotide-prednisone and capecitabine-gemcitabine. Promising data of immunotherapy with antiPDL1 antibody (pembrolizumab) requires confirmation. Based on available data, the most popular and active regimens are cisplatin-anthracycline (CAP or ADOC) or cisplatin-etoposide combinations that should be recommended when considering first-line chemotherapy in thymoma or thymic carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Berghmans
- Department of Intensive Care and Oncological Emergencies & Thoracic oncology, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Laboratoire Facultaire de Médecine Factuelle de l'Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.
| | - Valérie Durieux
- Bibliothèque des Sciences de la Santé, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
| | | | - Christiane Jungels
- Department of Oncological Medicine and Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Anne-Pascale Meert
- Department of Intensive Care and Oncological Emergencies & Thoracic oncology, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luigi Moretti
- Department of Radiotherapy, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sebahat Ocak
- Division of Pneumology, CHU UCL Namur (Godinne Site), Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), Yvoir, Belgium; Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Pôle de Pneumologie, ORL et Dermatologie (PNEU), UCL, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Martine Roelandts
- Department of Radiotherapy, Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Girard
- Institut du Thorax Curie Montsouris, Institut Curie, Paris, France
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Miura Y, Kaira K, Sakurai R, Imai H, Tomizawa Y, Sunaga N, Minato K, Hisada T, Oyama T, Yamada M. Prognostic effect of class III β-tubulin and Topoisomerase-II in patients with advanced thymic carcinoma who received combination chemotherapy, including taxanes or topoisomerase-II inhibitors. Oncol Lett 2017; 14:2369-2378. [PMID: 28789453 PMCID: PMC5530002 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Class III β-tubulin (TUBB3) and Topoisomerase-II (topo-II) are considered to be the predictors of therapeutic efficacy and outcome in several types of human neoplasm. However, whether TUBB3 or topo-II may predict the response to combination chemotherapy and prognosis in patients with advanced thymic carcinoma (ATC) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic significance of TUBB3 and topo-II expression levels in ATC. A total of 34 patients with ATC who received combination chemotherapy were enrolled in the present study. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to examine the expression of TUBB3, topo-II and Ki-67 in tumor specimens obtained by surgical resection or biopsy. TUBB3 and topo-II were highly expressed in 38 and 53% of the tumors, respectively. Progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly shorter in patients with high levels of TUBB3 compared with those with low levels of TUBB3 (P<0.01), whereas no significant difference in PFS between patients with high and low topo-II expression levels was observed (P=0.31). Patients with overexpression of TUBB3 or topo-II exhibited significantly shorter overall survival rates (OS) compared with those patients with low levels of expression of these proteins (TUBB3; P=0.01, topo-II; P=0.01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a high level of TUBB3 expression was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for OS, and a high level of topo-II expression tended to correlate with poor prognosis without statistical significance. Additionally, a subset analysis demonstrated that the treatment with taxanes, but not topo-II inhibitors, tended to prolong OS in patients with TUBB3 overexpression and there was significant survival advantage of chemoradiotherapy over chemotherapy in patients with topo-II overexpression. It was revealed that an enhanced expression of TUBB3 or topo-II was clearly associated with clinical outcomes in patients with ATC who received combination chemotherapy, including taxanes or topo-II inhibitors, suggesting the prognostic significance of these markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Miura
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center, Ota, Gunma 373-8550, Japan
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Kyoichi Kaira
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
- Department of Oncology Clinical Development, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Reiko Sakurai
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Nishigunma Hospital, Shibukawa, Gunma 377-8511, Japan
| | - Hisao Imai
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center, Ota, Gunma 373-8550, Japan
| | - Yoshio Tomizawa
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Nishigunma Hospital, Shibukawa, Gunma 377-8511, Japan
| | - Noriaki Sunaga
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
- Oncology Center, Gunma University Hospital, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Koichi Minato
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center, Ota, Gunma 373-8550, Japan
| | - Takeshi Hisada
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Tetsunari Oyama
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Masanobu Yamada
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
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Liu SC, Lin H, Huang CC, Chang Chien CC, Tsai CC, Ou YC, Fu HC, Liu JM, Ma YY. Prognostic role of excision repair cross complementing-1 and topoisomerase-1 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer. Taiwan J Obstet Gynecol 2017; 55:213-9. [PMID: 27125404 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjog.2016.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer worldwide and chemoresistance is one of the major causes of treatment failure. We investigated whether ERCC1, TAU, TOPO2A, TOPO1, P53, and C-MYC expression could be used as predictors for treatment outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Immunohistochemical staining was used to examine the expression of these biomarkers in resected tumor specimens from 38 patients treated in our institute. Clinicopathological data including demographics, staging, histological type, treatment response, expression of the biomarkers, and patient outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS The median follow-up period was 47.5 months (range, 10-135 months) and the median overall survival was 56.0 months. Patients who did not have expression of ERCC1, and those who had expression of TOPO1 had significantly better overall survival. Cox regression analysis also confirmed that these two biomarkers were significant independent factors predicting survival (ERCC1, hazard ratio 5.51, 95% confidence interval: 2.02-14.00, p = 0.001; TOPO1, hazard ratio 0.22, 95% confidence interval: 0.06-0.77, p = 0.017). CONCLUSION We concluded that poor overall survival was significantly associated with positive ERCC1 and negative TOPO1 expression. The results might be the consequence of chemoresistance to platinum and camptothecins, both of which are commonly used regimens in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Chieh Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hao Lin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Cheng Huang
- Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chan-Chao Chang Chien
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Chou Tsai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Che Ou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Chun Fu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jacqueline M Liu
- TTY Oncology Translational Research Center, Taiwan Tung Yang Biopharm, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Ying Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan.
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Scorsetti M, Leo F, Trama A, D'Angelillo R, Serpico D, Macerelli M, Zucali P, Gatta G, Garassino MC. Thymoma and thymic carcinomas. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2016; 99:332-50. [PMID: 26818050 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2016.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Thymomas (Ts) and thymic carcinomas (TCs) are rare tumours of the mediastinum with an incidence rate of 1.7/million per year in Europe. Histological classification is based on rate of non-malignant-appearing thymic epithelial cells and proportions of lymphocytes (A, AB, B1, B2, B3, and C), while staging system concerns localisation of the involved areas. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment with a 10-year survival of 80%, 78%, 75%, and 42% for stages I, II, III and IV, respectively, with an R0 resection. Radiotherapy has a role in selected cases (stage III patients or R1-2 residual) and platinum-based chemotherapy remains the standard of care for patients with advanced disease. A multimodality approach would be advisable when surgery is not recommended. Since molecular aberrations are poorly understood and few responses are reported, targeted therapies are yet being studied. In this review, we describe key aspects of clinical management for Ts and TCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Scorsetti
- Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery Department, Humanitas Clinical and Research Centre, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Leo
- Thoracic Surgery Service, Périgueux Hospital, Périgueux, France
| | - Annalisa Trama
- Evaluative Epidemiology, Fondazione IRCCS-Italian National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Danila Serpico
- Evaluative Epidemiology, Fondazione IRCCS-Italian National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marianna Macerelli
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, Division of Medical Oncology, Foundation IRCCS-Italian National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy.
| | - Paolo Zucali
- Medical Oncology and Haematology Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Centre, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gemma Gatta
- Evaluative Epidemiology, Fondazione IRCCS-Italian National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Chiara Garassino
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, Division of Medical Oncology, Foundation IRCCS-Italian National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy
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Shin DY, Kim DW, Keam B, Kim TM, Lee SH, Kang CH, Kim YT, Heo DS. The presence of extrathoracic metastasis is more prognostic of survival than Masaoka stage (IVa/IVb) in metastatic thymic epithelial tumor: a retrospective cohort study. Lung Cancer 2014; 85:320-5. [PMID: 24954359 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2014.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2014] [Revised: 05/24/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Our aim in this study was to identify independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) in order to explain the heterogeneity of OS in patients with metastatic thymic epithelial tumor (TET). METHODS Sixty-one consecutive patients with histologic diagnosis of Masaoka stage IV TET between January 1980 and March 2009 were analyzed at a single institution. Masaoka stage IVa was defined as pleural or pericardial dissemination, and IVb as lymphogenous or hematogenous metastasis. Metastasis outside the thoracic cage was defined as extrathoracic metastasis. To identify prognostic factors, relationships between clinicopathologic factors and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS Of the 61 patients, 30 (49.2%) had thymoma, 28 (45.9%) had thymic carcinoma, and the remaining 3 (4.9%) had an unclear histologic subtype. The Masaoka stage was IVa in 27 patients (44.3%) and IVb in 34 patients (55.7%). Significant independent adverse prognostic factors for OS were histologic subtype and extrathoracic metastasis (hazard ratio [HR]=3.09 and 6.03, 95% CI: 1.41-6.74 and 1.89-19.30, p=0.005 and 0.002, respectively). The presence of extrathoracic metastasis was also an independent prognostic factor for decreased progression-free survival time (PFS) (HR=6.62, 95% CI: 1.19-24.17, p=0.004). The only significant criterion for prognostic discrimination was the presence of extrathoracic metastasis in metastatic TET. CONCLUSIONS Significant independent prognostic factors for lower OS were the histologic subtype of thymic carcinoma and the presence of extrathoracic metastasis. A new concept of extrathoracic metastasis might provide additional information for the understanding of metastatic TET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Yeop Shin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Wan Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Bhumsuk Keam
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Min Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Hoon Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Hyun Kang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Tae Kim
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Seog Heo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Monica V, Familiari U, Chiusa L, Rossi G, Novero D, Busso S, Ruffini E, Ardissone F, Scagliotti GV, Papotti M. Messenger RNA and protein expression of thymidylate synthase and DNA repair genes in thymic tumors. Lung Cancer 2012; 79:228-35. [PMID: 23276504 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2012.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Revised: 11/14/2012] [Accepted: 12/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thymic epithelial tumors include several entities with different biologic behavior. Chemotherapy is indicated in advanced disease, but limited data exist on gene expression correlation with the response to chemotherapeutic agents. PATIENTS AND METHODS A series of 69 thymic neoplasms (7 A-, 6 AB-, 6 B1-, 10 B2-, 14 B3-thymomas, 22 carcinomas and 4 combined tumors) was collected to assess gene expression of thymidylate synthase (TS), excision repair cross complementing-1 (ERCC1), ribonucleotide reductase subunit 1 (RRM1), topoisomerase 2α (TOP2A) and mTOR. RESULTS A strong linear correlation between TS gene and protein expression was observed (P<0.0001, R=0.40). TS expression was significantly lower in pure A-thymomas and thymic carcinomas (P<0.0001) and progressively decreasing from B1-type to thymic carcinomas (B1>B2>B3>C; P<0.0001). RRM1 and TOP2A mRNA expression levels were significantly correlated with TS levels (both P=0.03) with a similar trend of expression among histotypes. RRM1 and TOP2A high levels were significantly correlated with high TS (P=0.03) and low tumor stages (I-II) (P<0.0001 and P<0.01, respectively). No relevant changes of ERCC1 and mTOR were detected. CONCLUSIONS Low TS and, to a minor extent, RRM1 and TOP2A expression were detected in aggressive thymic tumors. These findings should be prospectively considered in selecting the most appropriate chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Monica
- Division of Pathology, Department of Clinical & Biological Sciences, University of Torino at St Luigi Hospital, Turin, Italy.
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Kelly RJ, Petrini I, Rajan A, Wang Y, Giaccone G. Thymic malignancies: from clinical management to targeted therapies. J Clin Oncol 2011; 29:4820-7. [PMID: 22105817 PMCID: PMC3675690 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2011.36.0487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2011] [Accepted: 08/03/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE A key challenge in the treatment of thymoma and thymic carcinoma (TC) is in improving our understanding of the molecular biology of these relatively rare tumors. In recent years, significant efforts have been made to dissect the molecular pathways involved in their carcinogenesis. Here we discuss the results of large-scale genomic analyses conducted to date and review the most active chemotherapies and targeted treatments. METHODS We reviewed the literature for chemotherapeutic trials in the last 20 years and trials involving targeted therapies between 1999 and 2010. The search was supplemented by a review of abstracts presented at the annual meetings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (from 1999 to 2010), at the first International Conference on Thymic Malignancies in 2009, and at a follow-up meeting of the newly formed International Thymic Malignancies Interest Group in 2010. RESULTS Surgery remains the treatment of choice for operable tumors, whereas chemotherapy is standard in locally advanced and metastatic disease. Thus far, targeted therapies have been developed empirically. Histone deacetylase inhibitors have shown some activity in thymoma whereas sunitinib may be active in TC. There are no data to support the use of HER2- or EGFR-targeted therapies in thymic malignancies. CONCLUSION Drug development for the treatment of thymic malignancies is difficult because of the rarity of these tumors. Ethnic differences are becoming apparent, with aggressive subtypes being observed in Asians and African Americans. Incremental improvements in our understanding of tumor biology suggest that molecular profiling-directed therapies may be the preferred route of investigation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronan J. Kelly
- All authors: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Iacopo Petrini
- All authors: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Arun Rajan
- All authors: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Yisong Wang
- All authors: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Giuseppe Giaccone
- All authors: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
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Abstract
Thymomas are rare epithelial tumors that display significant heterogeneity. Thymomas are usually indolent; however, thymic carcinomas are typically invasive with a high risk of relapse and death. Current treatment approaches are primarily based on clinical stage. Surgery is the mainstay for treatment of early stage disease, whereas multimodality therapy is required for advanced disease. The most important prognostic factors are stage and histology; however, increasing recognition of disease heterogeneity has led to recent exploration of underlying molecular mechanisms. Molecular characterization of thymic tumors may offer strategies to improve diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis. This article describes recently identified molecular characteristics of thymoma and thymic carcinoma that may potentially impact disease classification, targeted therapeutic decision making, and design of future clinical trials.
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Features of potentially predictive biomarkers of chemotherapeutic efficacy in small cell lung cancer. J Thorac Oncol 2010; 5:484-90. [PMID: 20107425 DOI: 10.1097/jto.0b013e3181ccb27b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION One-size-fits-all chemotherapy does not improve survival in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Excision repair cross-complementing group 1 (ERCC1), ribonucleotide reductase 1 (RRM1), thymidylate synthase (TS), and topoisomerase 2alpha (Topo2alpha) expression levels are predictive of chemotherapeutic efficacy in some malignancies. Our aim was to determine the expression levels of these proteins to assess their potential clinical utility in SCLC. METHODS We used an immunofluorescence-based automated quantitative technique to score RRM1, ERCC1, TS, and Topo2alpha levels in tumor specimens from 100 patients with SCLC and immunohistochemistry to semiquantitatively score levels of TS, 5-phosphoribosyl-glycinamide formyl-transferase, and folyl-polyglutamate synthase expression. Confocal microscopy was used for subcellular localization in SCLC cells. RESULTS RRM1, ERCC1, and Topo2alpha staining was predominantly nuclear and TS mainly cytoplasmic. Using immunohistochemistry, we found that TS (antibody 106) and TS (antibody 4H4) scores were strongly correlated (r = 0.82, p < 0.0001). By automated quantitative technique, RRM1 and Topo2alpha levels were highly correlated (r = 0.56, p < 0.0001). ERCC1 and TS levels had a narrow and low range of expression. There was no correlation between any of these biomarkers and patients' age or sex. CONCLUSION Considering this clinical evidence, expression levels of RRM1 and Topo2alpha may have utility for chemotherapy customization. Clinical validation of their predictive power is desirable in a prospective clinical trial.
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