Section editor transclusions
Guidelines
Neoadjuvant therapy for borderline resectable disease
PAC
PAC: Platinol (Cisplatin), Adriamycin (Doxorubicin), Cyclophosphamide
CAP: Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin (Doxorubicin), Platinol (Cisplatin)
Regimen
Note: while this regimen is conventionally referred to as PAC or CAP, it also includes a high-dose prednisone component with likely antineoplastic properties.
Chemotherapy
Glucocorticoid therapy
Supportive medications
21- to 28-day cycle for 3 cycles
Subsequent treatment
- Surgical resection is performed if CT scan 3 to 4 weeks after the third cycle of chemotherapy shows disease amenable to resection, and is followed by RT, then PAC consolidation
References
- Kim ES, Putnam JB, Komaki R, Walsh GL, Ro JY, Shin HJ, Truong M, Moon H, Swisher SG, Fossella FV, Khuri FR, Hong WK, Shin DM. Phase II study of a multidisciplinary approach with induction chemotherapy, followed by surgical resection, radiation therapy, and consolidation chemotherapy for unresectable malignant thymomas: final report. Lung Cancer. 2004 Jun;44(3):369-79. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed
Adjuvant therapy
PAC
PAC: Platinol (Cisplatin), Adriamycin (Doxorubicin), Cyclophosphamide
CAP: Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin (Doxorubicin), Platinol (Cisplatin)
Regimen
Note: while this regimen is conventionally referred to as PAC or CAP, it also includes a high-dose prednisone component with likely antineoplastic properties. Also note that these doses are 80% of the induction doses, except for the prednisone.
Preceding treatment
Chemotherapy
Glucocorticoid therapy
21- to 28-day cycle for 3 cycles
References
- Kim ES, Putnam JB, Komaki R, Walsh GL, Ro JY, Shin HJ, Truong M, Moon H, Swisher SG, Fossella FV, Khuri FR, Hong WK, Shin DM. Phase II study of a multidisciplinary approach with induction chemotherapy, followed by surgical resection, radiation therapy, and consolidation chemotherapy for unresectable malignant thymomas: final report. Lung Cancer. 2004 Jun;44(3):369-79. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed
Radiation therapy
Regimen
Preceding treatment
Radiotherapy
One course
Subsequent treatment
References
- Kim ES, Putnam JB, Komaki R, Walsh GL, Ro JY, Shin HJ, Truong M, Moon H, Swisher SG, Fossella FV, Khuri FR, Hong WK, Shin DM. Phase II study of a multidisciplinary approach with induction chemotherapy, followed by surgical resection, radiation therapy, and consolidation chemotherapy for unresectable malignant thymomas: final report. Lung Cancer. 2004 Jun;44(3):369-79. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed
Advanced or metastatic disease, first-line therapy
ADOC
ADOC: Adriamycin (Doxorubicin), cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum (Cisplatin), Oncovin (Vincristine), Cyclophosphamide
Regimen
Note: The body of Fornasiero et al. 1991 specifies that cycles are given every 3 weeks. However, the abstract says that cycles are given "at monthly intervals," and some guidelines list the regimen as being given every 4 weeks.
Chemotherapy
21- to 28-day cycles
References
- Retrospective: Fornasiero A, Daniele O, Ghiotto C, Piazza M, Fiore-Donati L, Calabró F, Rea F, Fiorentino MV. Chemotherapy for invasive thymoma. A 13-year experience. Cancer. 1991 Jul 1;68(1):30-3. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed
Carboplatin & Paclitaxel (CP)
Regimen
Chemotherapy
Supportive medications
21-day cycle for up to 6 cycles
References
- Lemma GL, Lee JW, Aisner SC, Langer CJ, Tester WJ, Johnson DH, Loehrer PJ Sr. Phase II study of carboplatin and paclitaxel in advanced thymoma and thymic carcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2011 May 20;29(15):2060-5. Epub 2011 Apr 18. link to original article contains verified protocol link to PMC article PubMed
Cisplatin & Etoposide (EP)
PE: Platinol (Cisplatin), Etoposide
Regimen
Chemotherapy
Supportive medications
- "A program of forced hydration"
21-day cycle for up to 8 cycles
References
- Giaccone G, Ardizzoni A, Kirkpatrick A, Clerico M, Sahmoud T, van Zandwijk N; EORTC Lung Cancer Cooperative Group. Cisplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic thymoma: a phase II study of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lung Cancer Cooperative Group. J Clin Oncol. 1996 Mar;14(3):814-20. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed
PAC
PAC: Platinol (Cisplatin), Adriamycin (Doxorubicin), Cyclophosphamide
CAP: Cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin (Doxorubicin), Platinol (Cisplatin)
Regimen
Chemotherapy
Supportive medications
- 1 liter NS over 2 hours at least 2 hours before and after Cisplatin (Platinol) therapy
- Corticosteroids use for antiemesis was specifically discouraged unless the indication was for myasthenia gravis
21-day cycle for up to 8 cycles
References
- Loehrer PJ Sr, Perez CA, Roth LM, Greco A, Livingston RB, Einhorn LH. Chemotherapy for advanced thymoma: preliminary results of an intergroup study. Ann Intern Med. 1990 Oct 1;113(7):520-4. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed
- Update: Loehrer PJ Sr, Kim K, Aisner SC, Livingston R, Einhorn LH, Johnson D, Blum R; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group; Southwest Oncology Group; Southeastern Cancer Study Group. Cisplatin plus doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide in metastatic or recurrent thymoma: final results of an intergroup trial. J Clin Oncol. 1994 Jun;12(6):1164-8. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed
VIP
VIP: Vepesid (Etoposide), Ifosfamide, Platinol (Cisplatin)
Regimen
Chemotherapy
Supportive medications
21-day cycle for 4 cycles
References
- Loehrer PJ Sr, Jiroutek M, Aisner S, Aisner J, Green M, Thomas CR Jr, Livingston R, Johnson DH. Combined etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin in the treatment of patients with advanced thymoma and thymic carcinoma: an intergroup trial. Cancer. 2001 Jun 1;91(11):2010-5. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed
Advanced or metastatic disease, subsequent lines of therapy
Capecitabine & Gemcitabine
CAP-GEM: CAPecitabine & GEMcitabine
Regimen
Chemotherapy
21-day cycles
References
- Palmieri G, Merola G, Federico P, Petillo L, Marino M, Lalle M, Milella M, Ceribelli A, Montella L, Merola C, Del Prete S, Bergaglio M, De Placido S, Di Lorenzo G. Preliminary results of phase II study of capecitabine and gemcitabine (CAP-GEM) in patients with metastatic pretreated thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). Ann Oncol. 2010 Jun;21(6):1168-72. Epub 2009 Oct 30. link to original article PubMed
- Update: Palmieri G, Buonerba C, Ottaviano M, Federico P, Calabrese F, Von Arx C, De Maio AP, Marino M, Lalle M, Montella L, Merola C, Milella M, Bergaglio M, Di Lorenzo G, Damiano V. Capecitabine plus gemcitabine in thymic epithelial tumors: final analysis of a Phase II trial. Future Oncol. 2014 Nov;10(14):2141-7. link to original article contains protocol PubMed
Everolimus monotherapy
Regimen
Targeted therapy
Continued indefinitely
References
- ONC-2010-001: Zucali PA, De Pas T, Palmieri G, Favaretto A, Chella A, Tiseo M, Caruso M, Simonelli M, Perrino M, De Vincenzo F, Toffalorio F, Damiano V, Pasello G, Garbella E, Ali M, Conforti F, Ottaviano M, Cioffi A, De Placido S, Giordano L, Bertossi M, Destro A, Di Tommaso L, Santoro A. Phase II study of everolimus in patients with thymoma and thymic carcinoma previously treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Feb 1;36(4):342-349. Epub 2017 Dec 14.link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed
Ifosfamide monotherapy
Regimen variant #1, intermittent dosing
Chemotherapy
Supportive medications
- Mesna (Mesnex) 400 mg IV bolus once per day on days 1 to 5, given before ifosfamide, then 1000 mg/m2 IV over 7.5 hours (total dose per cycle: 7000 mg/m2)
21-day cycles
Regimen variant #2, continuous dosing
Chemotherapy
- Ifosfamide (Ifex) 1500 mg/m2/day IV continuous infusion over 120 hours, started on day 1, given second (total dose per cycle: 6000 mg/m2)
Supportive medications
- Mesna (Mesnex) 2000 mg IV bolus once on day 1, given first, then 1500 mg/m2/day IV continuous infusion over 7 days (total dose per cycle: 12,500 mg/m2)
21-day cycles
References
- Highley MS, Underhill CR, Parnis FX, Karapetis C, Rankin E, Dussek J, Bryant B, Rowland C, Hodson N, Hughes J, Harper PG. Treatment of invasive thymoma with single-agent ifosfamide. J Clin Oncol. 1999 Sep;17(9):2737-44. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed content property of HemOnc.org
Octreotide monotherapy
Regimen variant #1, brief course
Endocrine therapy
1-month cycle for 2 cycles
Subsequent treatment
Regimen variant #2, extended course
Endocrine therapy
1-month cycle for up to 12 cycles
References
- Loehrer PJ Sr, Wang W, Johnson DH, Aisner SC, Ettinger DS; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Octreotide alone or with prednisone in patients with advanced thymoma and thymic carcinoma: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Phase II Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2004 Jan 15;22(2):293-9. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed
Octreotide & Prednisone
Regimen
Preceding treatment
Endocrine therapy
1-month cycle for up to 10 cycles
References
- Loehrer PJ Sr, Wang W, Johnson DH, Aisner SC, Ettinger DS; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Octreotide alone or with prednisone in patients with advanced thymoma and thymic carcinoma: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Phase II Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2004 Jan 15;22(2):293-9. link to original article contains verified protocol PubMed
Sunitinib monotherapy
Regimen
Targeted therapy
42-day cycles
References
- NCI 12-C-0118: Thomas A, Rajan A, Berman A, Tomita Y, Brzezniak C, Lee MJ, Lee S, Ling A, Spittler AJ, Carter CA, Guha U, Wang Y, Szabo E, Meltzer P, Steinberg SM, Trepel JB, Loehrer PJ, Giaccone G. Sunitinib in patients with chemotherapy-refractory thymoma and thymic carcinoma: an open-label phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2015 Feb;16(2):177-86. Epub 2015 Jan 13. Erratum in: Lancet Oncol. 2015 Mar;16(3):e105. link to original article contains verified protocol link to PMC article PubMed NCT01621568
Investigational agents
Drugs with preliminary evidence of efficacy in this disease subtype.