s-1-(combination) and Thymoma

Thymic carcinoma is a rare epithelial tumor of the thymus with a poor prognosis, and multimodal approaches are important for its treatment. Recently, a number of studies have indicated that S-1 treatment is effective against thymic carcinoma. S-1 plus cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy is a commonly used treatment for other malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In addition, its safety has been confirmed, and it has been reported to have a marked effect against thymic carcinoma. Therefore, we conducted a phase II study of S-1 plus cisplatin with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy for locally advanced thymic carcinoma, in which the overall response rate was employed as the primary endpoint. The secondary endpoints were overall survival, progression-free survival, and safety.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Chemoradiotherapy; Cisplatin; Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; Drug Combinations; Humans; Middle Aged; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Oxonic Acid; Prognosis; Research Design; Tegafur; Thymoma; Thymus Neoplasms; Young Adult

The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate the role of S-1-based chemotherapy for patients with relapsed advanced thymic carcinoma (TC).. This study was a retrospective review of TC patients who had received S-1-based chemotherapy for patients with platinum- and antrathycline-failure TC. Patients received S-1 monotherapy or S-1/gemcitabine combination therapy, that were repeated until disease progression.. The patients consisted of 4 males and 4 females with a median age of 59 years (range=41-71); 2 with squamous cell carcinoma, 3 with undifferentiated carcinoma, 1 with poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma and 2 not otherwise specified. Grade 3 or higher toxicity was only neutropenia (25.0%). No treatment-related death was observed. The response rate was 50.0% (95% confidence interval (CI)=21.5-78.5%). The median progression free-survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of S-1-based chemotherapy were 6.0 and 13.5 months, respectively.. S-1-based chemotherapy was found to be potentially useful for patients with relapsed TC.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Oxonic Acid; Platinum; Tegafur; Thymoma; Thymus Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome

The case is a 79-year-old woman. Because an anterior mediastinum tumor was noted by CT performed in the case of additional workup of left precordial pain noticed from approximately two months ago, she was admitted to our institution. After hospitalization, CT-guided biopsy was performed, but did not lead to diagnosis. Therefore, surgical biopsy was performed and the diagnosis was advanced thymic carcinoma with metastasis to the mediastinal lymph node, pericardium invasion and left lung invasion. In consideration of her advanced age and a low pulmonary function, it was thought that the radical operation was impossible. Because the patient strongly hoped for oral chemotherapy on an outpatient basis, we started treatment with S-1 100 mg/day (3 weeks administration, 2 weeks withdrawal). Four courses were completed, and the tumor was reduced. Measurement by CT showed the tumor had reduced to 58% and was judged to be PR. Symptoms such as chest pain disappeared and QOL is good approximately one year later.

Topics: Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Biopsy; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Neoplasm Staging; Oxonic Acid; Quality of Life; Tegafur; Thymoma; Tomography, X-Ray Computed