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Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1574-8871
ISSN (Online): 1876-1038

Systemic Therapeutic Options in Thymic Malignancies: A Glimmer of Hope

Author(s): Lisa A. Hammond-Thelin and Charles R. Thomas, Jr.

Volume 2, Issue 3, 2007

Page: [191 - 205] Pages: 15

DOI: 10.2174/157488707781662689

Price: $65

Abstract

Progress in the systemic therapy of thymic malignancies has been hampered in the past by the rarity of this disease entity and the lack of a global collaborative effort in conducting phase II studies. Cisplatin-based therapy has been considered the standard of care, though data typically has been derived from a retrospective case-series approach. However, the arrival of novel cytotoxic agents and molecularly targeted agents into the clinic has helped provide the impetus for improved methodology in thymic malignancy research with an emphasis on more prospective phase II studies. This review discusses the results of traditional cytotoxic agents, novel cytotoxic agents, biologic therapy and the initial evaluation of molecularly targeted therapeutics, such as epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, for the treatment of thymic malignancies. In addition, potential novel targets such as VEGF, Bcl-2 and c-KIT are assessed.

Keywords: Thymoma, thymic carcinoma, targeted therapy, chemotherapy


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