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Fetal Pediatr Pathol 2019 Apr 18:1-7. Epub 2019 Apr 18.

c Division of Anatomical Pathology , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , BC , Canada.

Background: Spindle epithelial tumor with thymus-like differentiation (SETTLE) is a tumor with an indolent disease course and late metastatic potential. It occurs primarily in children and adolescents, although it can present later in life. It was first described by Chan and Rosai [Tumors of the neck showing thymic or related branchial pouch differentiation: a unifying concept. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 29;10:629. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Milan Unit, Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (CNR-IRGB), Milan, Italy.

The identification of Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and its cognate receptor Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) during a search for novel tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily members has dramatically changed the scenario of bone biology by providing the functional and biochemical proof that RANKL signaling via RANK is the master factor for osteoclastogenesis. In parallel, two independent studies reported the identification of mouse RANKL on activated T cells and of a ligand for osteoprotegerin on a murine bone marrow-derived stromal cell line. After these seminal findings, accumulating data indicated RANKL and RANK not only as essential players for the development and activation of osteoclasts, but also for the correct differentiation of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) that act as mediators of the central tolerance process by which self-reactive T cells are eliminated while regulatory T cells are generated. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2019 Feb;11(2):456-464

Université Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon (Bron) 69677, France.

Background: Thymic epithelial tumors are rare thoracic tumors for which pathological diagnosis is challenging due to the definition of multiple subtypes, tumor heterogeneity, and variations in interobserver reproducibility. In this study, we aimed at analyzing the quality of pathological reporting in line with the consistency between initial diagnosis and final diagnosis after expert review through a collaboration between the largest thoracic oncology center in Estonia, and one expert center in France.

Methods: Hospital electronic database and pathology databases from the Tallinn North Estonia Medical Centre were searched for thymic and mediastinal tumors from 2010 to 2017. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2019 Feb;11(2):438-444

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is now increasingly used for the treatment of early stage thymic malignancies. However, VATS has not been advocated for patients with locally advanced diseases. We reviewed our initial experience in VATS thymectomy with partial superior vena cava (SVC) resection for IASLC/ITMIG stage III thymic tumors. Read More

Yonago Acta Med 2019 Mar 28;62(1):146-152. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Division of Radiology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, School of Medicine, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8503, Japan.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between preoperative FDG-PET parameters and the World Health Organization (WHO) classification or Masaoka staging system of thymic epithelial tumors.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 32 patients with histologically proven thymic epithelial tumors who underwent FDG-PET/CT before surgical resection. FDG-PET parameters, including the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolytic activity (TLG), were measured. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2019 Mar 30;57:142-144. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Thoracic Surgery, Shimonoseki City Hospital, Shimonoseki, Japan.

Introduction: Thymic papillary adenocarcinoma is rare. Further, thymic papillary adenocarcinoma coexisting with type A thymoma is extremely rare. Surgery remains the only effective treatment for this disease. Read More

Curr Probl Cancer 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

Background: Thymic carcinomas (TCs) and thymic neuroendocrine tumors (TNETs) are aggressive cancers with poor survival outcome and limited investigation. This study is to investigate clinicopathologic features on TC and TNET patients' prognosis of a large cohort.

Materials And Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database were used to identify a total of 362 TC and TNET patients with documented clinicopathologic features we investigated. Read More

World J Radiol 2019 Mar;11(3):27-45

MR imaging Unit, Clínica Las Nieves, Jaen 23007, Spain.

In the new era of functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the utility of chest MRI is increasing exponentially due to several advances, including absence of ionizing radiation, excellent tissue contrast and high capability for lesion characterization and treatment monitoring. The application of several of these diagnostic weapons in a multiparametric fashion enables to better characterize thymic epithelial tumors and other mediastinal tumoral lesions, accurate assessment of the invasion of adjacent structures and detection of pathologic lymph nodes and metastasis. Also, "do not touch lesions" could be identified with the associated impact in the management of those patients. Read More

Adv Anat Pathol 2019 Mar 29. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Department of Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.

The thymus is a dynamic organ that undergoes changes throughout life and can demonstrate a myriad of pathologic alterations. A number of benign entities of the thymus prove to be diagnostic dilemmas owing to their resemblance and association with true thymic tumors. These are usually discovered incidentally on routine imaging and most patients are either asymptomatic or present with signs and symptoms of compression of adjacent organs. Read More

J Surg Oncol 2019 Mar 28. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the predictive ability between the Masaoka-Koga (M-K) staging system and the 8th TNM staging system for the recurrence of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). In addition, a nomogram was developed on the basis of the proposed TNM classification to predict individual recurrence rate.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 445 patients who underwent complete resection (R0) of TETs between January 2000 and February 2013. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Mar 23. Epub 2019 Mar 23.

Cardiothoracic Surgery Department- Tanta University- Egypt.

Thymic IgG4 is a rare entity that can mimic anterior mediastinal tumors. Preoperative diagnosis is essential to prevent unnecessary surgery. Little is known about disease presentation, diagnosis and response to therapy. Read More

PLoS One 2019 21;14(3):e0197655. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

IVPC UMR754 INRA, Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, EPHE, Lyon, France.

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. Read More

Korean J Radiol 2019 Apr;20(4):671-682

Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Objective: To investigate whether computed tomography (CT) and fluorine-18-labeled fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) may be applied to distinguish thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) from benign cysts in the anterior mediastinum.

Materials And Methods: We included 262 consecutive patients with pathologically proven TETs and benign cysts 5 cm or smaller who underwent preoperative CT scans. In addition to conventional morphological and ancillary CT findings, the relationship between the lesion and the adjacent mediastinal pleura was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. Read More

Eur Radiol 2019 Mar 15. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

Department of Radiology and Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Lab of Shaanxi Province, Tangdu Hospital, Military Medical University of PLA Airforce (Fourth Military Medical University), Xi'an, 710038, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.

Objectives: To explore the value of combining apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) and texture parameters from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in predicting the pathological subtypes and stages of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs).

Methods: Fifty-seven patients with TETs confirmed by pathological analysis were retrospectively enrolled. ADC values and optimal texture feature parameters were compared for differences among low-risk thymoma (LRT), high-risk thymoma (HRT), and thymic carcinoma (TC) by one-way ANOVA, and between early and advanced stages of TETs were tested using the independent samples t test. Read More

Oncotarget 2019 Feb 12;10(13):1306-1319. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Education and Research Support Center, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.

Introduction: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) comprise several histologies of thymoma and thymic carcinomas (TCs), and TC frequently metastasizes and causes death. We therefore aimed here to identify key molecules closely related to prognosis and their biological roles in high-risk TETs, particularly TCs.

Results: RNA sequence analysis demonstrated that hypoxia-related genes were highly expressed in TETs. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(10):e14789

Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Rationale: Thymoma is a type of rare tumor in the thymus gland, and among patients with thymoma, less than 10% will develop pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), whereas less than 5% of patients with PRCA have a thymoma. The optimal approach for PRCA in thymoma is immunosuppressive therapy, such as steroids, cyclosporine, and human antithymocyte globulin.

Patient Concerns: A sixty-one-year-old male was diagnosed with thymoma with PRCA after he complained fatigue, tinnitus, and weakness for 1 month, he received therapy with recombinant erythropoietin (rhEPO) for 1 month after the tumor was totally resected and readmitted with pulmonary embolism and received anticoagulation therapy with enoxaparin for 3 months. Read More

Cell Rep 2019 Mar;26(10):2651-2666.e6

Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA. Electronic address:

Intratumor mutational heterogeneity has been documented in primary non-small-cell lung cancer. Here, we elucidate mechanisms of tumor evolution and heterogeneity in metastatic thoracic tumors (lung adenocarcinoma and thymic carcinoma) using whole-exome and transcriptome sequencing, SNP array for copy-number alterations (CNAs), and mass-spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics of metastases obtained by rapid autopsy. APOBEC mutagenesis, promoted by increased expression of APOBEC3 region transcripts and associated with a high-risk APOBEC3 germline variant, correlated with mutational tumor heterogeneity. Read More

Clin Epigenetics 2019 Mar 4;11(1):38. Epub 2019 Mar 4.

Cancer Center, Institute of Surgery Research, Third Affiliated Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), No. 10 Changjiang Zhilu, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400042, China.

Background: The current prognosis of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) is according to the World Health Organization (WHO) histologic classification and the Masaoka staging system. These methods of prognosis have certain limitations in clinical application and there is a need to seek new method for determining the prognosis of patients with TETs. To date, there have been no studies done on the use of DNA methylation biomarkers for prognosis of TETs. Read More

Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep 2019 Feb 22;2019. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Departments of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) production leading to ectopic ACTH syndrome accounts for a small proportion of all Cushing's syndrome (CS) cases. Thymic neuroendocrine tumors are rare neoplasms that may secrete ACTH leading to rapid development of hypercortisolism causing electrolyte and metabolic abnormalities, uncontrolled hypertension and an increased risk for opportunistic infections. We present a unique case of a patient who presented with a mediastinal mass, revealed to be an ACTH-secreting thymic neuroendocrine tumor (NET) causing ectopic CS. Read More

Ann Diagn Pathol 2019 Feb 10;39:69-73. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. Electronic address:

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of mediastinal masses allows for rapid on-site evaluation and the triaging of material for ancillary studies. However, surgical pathology is often considered to be the gold standard for diagnosis. This study examines the sensitivity and specificity of FNAC compared to a concurrent or subsequent surgical pathology specimen in 77 mediastinal lesions. Read More

Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Feb 22. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Department of Morfology, Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Section of General and Thoracic Surgery, Sant'Anna Hospital, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.

Background:  This study aims to describe the relationship between the new tumor nodes metastasis (TNM) staging and World Health Organization (WHO) classification and to identify how these two variables relate to each other and whether they possess a prognostic value in predicting survival and recurrence of disease.

Methods:  Medical records of 54 patients who underwent surgery for thymic epithelial tumors between 1996 and 2015 were reviewed.The histologic type of neoplasm was classified according to the criteria of WHO and staging was evaluated using the new TNM classification system. Read More

Thorac Cancer 2019 Apr 21;10(4):864-871. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Department of Radiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, South Korea.

Background: The growth rate of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) and thymic cysts was investigated to determine whether they can be differentiated and clinico-radiological predictors of interval growth was identified.

Methods: This retrospective study included 122 patients with pathologically proven thymic cysts (n = 56) or TETs (n = 66) who underwent two serial chest computed tomography scans at least eight weeks apart. Average diameters and attenuation were measured, volume-doubling times (VDTs) were calculated, and clinical characteristics were recorded. Read More

Acta Oncol 2019 Feb 20:1-5. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

a University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute , Jacksonville , FL , USA.

Objective: Thymic malignancies (TM) are rare tumors with long-term survivorship, causing concerns for radiotherapy-related late side effects. Proton therapy (PT) reduces the radiation dose to organs at risk, potentially decreasing long-term toxicities while preserving disease control. We report patterns-of-care and early clinical outcomes after PT for thymoma and thymic carcinoma. Read More

Surg Case Rep 2019 Feb 18;5(1):29. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Department of Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Okayama Hospital, 2-1-1 Aoe, Kita-ku, Okayama city, Okayama, 700-8607, Japan.

Background: Ectopic hamartomatous thymoma, which usually occurs in the lower neck, is a rare benign tumor containing spindle cells, epithelial nests, and adipose tissue. Although the origin of this tumor is still unknown, recent reports suggest that the designation of this tumor is inappropriate.

Case Presentation: A 38-year-old with an anterior cervical mass in the suprasternal region of her neck was referred to our hospital. Read More

Clin Lung Cancer 2018 Dec 21. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, CA.

Introduction: Thymic epithelial tumors (TET) are rare malignancies with a paucity of data on biology and therapeutics. Galectin-1 is a member of the β-galactoside binding protein family and has been shown to mediate tumor growth via modulation of immune cell function. This study examined galectin-1 expression in TET. Read More

Pediatr Int 2019 Feb 15;61(2):205-206. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Medical University, Hokkaido, Japan.

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2018 21;5(3):000780. Epub 2018 Mar 21.

Department of Internal Medicine, Villarrobledo General Hospital, Villarrobledo, Albacete, Spain.

We present the case of a 57-year-old man with ataxia and clinical and radiological features of cerebellar degeneration. Computed tomography showed a mediastinal mass and the patient was diagnosed with thymic carcinoma. Paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration is aninfrequent disorder and its association with thymic carcinoma very rare. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2018 Dec;10(12):6794-6802

Department of Radiology & Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Lab of Shaanxi Province, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University (Air Force Medical University), Xi'an 710038, China.

Background: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are the most common primary thymus tumors, but neither the possible ethnical/regional differences in the incidence of TETs nor the inter-relationships among the clinical variables has been revealed in northwest China.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed among pathologically confirmed TET patients from January 2004 to December 2015 in a tertiary general hospital of northwest China and the incidence, clinical features and the inter-relationships among clinical variables were analyzed.

Results: A total of 603 pathologically confirmed TETs patients (age range, 5-78 years; 308 males) were enrolled and the most common lesion location was anterior mediastinum (98. Read More

SAGE Open Med Case Rep 2019 1;7:2050313X19827749. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Osaka Medical College Hospital, Takatsuki, Japan.

Thymomas are tumors originating from the thymus epithelial cells and are the most common tumors of the anterior mediastinum. They have been classified into types A, AB, B1, B2, and B3 by the World Health Organization. Type B3 thymoma is composed of epithelial cell sheets with mild to moderate atypia and scant lymphocytes. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Feb 2. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Medicine Essen - Ruhrlandklinik. Electronic address:

Background: Thymic epithelial and neuroendocrine carcinomas are rare malignancies and only few prognosticators are defined. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment and complete resection contributes to superior outcome. Systematic lymph node dissection is not routinely performed in thymic malignancies. Read More

Neurochirurgie 2019 Feb 30;65(1):43-48. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of neurosurgery, CHU-hôpital Nord, Marseille, France.

Thymic epithelial tumors (TET) are rare lesions. The brain metastases of these tumors are even rarer. We report a case of brain metastases in a known patient with a thymic carcinoma diagnosed in October 2016. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Feb;98(5):e14351

Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Rationale: Cystic parathyroid adenomas are rare and seldom arise in ectopically located glands which may be found within the carotid sheath, mediastinum, thymus, or thyroid grand. They cannot be detected consistently by any imaging methods. Unusual symptoms may bring about certain pitfalls and difficulties for the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) caused by cystic parathyroid adenomas. Read More

Indian J Cancer 2018 Jul-Sep;55(3):288-291

Department of Medical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Background: Thymic epithelial tumors (TET) are the most common tumors of the anterior mediastinum. Patients with advanced/metastatic disease are usually treated with palliative chemotherapy (CT). Unfortunately, even though various palliative CT regimens have been used for long time, there is a real scarcity of published Indian data regarding the experience of palliative CT in metastatic TET (mTET). Read More

Oxid Med Cell Longev 2018 30;2018:9579262. Epub 2018 Dec 30.

Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Ministry of Education, School of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.

The water-soluble polysaccharides from L. (KGPs) were extracted and purified, and their structural characteristics and antitumor activity were further investigated. The UV spectrum, high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ion chromatography (IC) were employed to evaluate the structural characteristics, and H22 tumor-bearing mice model was established to demonstrate the antitumor activity. Read More

Phys Med 2019 Jan 17;57:215-220. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Ospedale Santa Chiara di Trento, Centro di Protonterapia, Trento, Italy; TIFPA, Trento Institute for Fundamentals Physics Applications, Trento, Italy.

Purpose: To report on the implementation, validation and results of the first two proton therapy PBS treatments of limited amplitudes moving targets performed at our center.

Methods And Materials: A real time optical tracking system was used to monitor the patient surface during the CT scan and treatment. This system is also able to trigger the beam during the treatment. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(3):e14198

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Rationale: Metastatic thymic carcinoma in the spine is a rare disease with no standard curative managements yet. The objective of this study is to report a very rare case of spinal metastases of thymic carcinoma successfully operated by combination of instrumentation and cement augmentation together with adjuvant treatment. The management of these unique cases has yet to be well-documented. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Apr;55(4):601-609

Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital, Strasbourg, France.

Objectives: We queried the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) prospective thymic database for descriptive analysis and for comparison with the ESTS retrospective thymic database (1990-2010).

Methods: Data were retrieved (January 2007-November 2017) for 1122 patients from 75 ESTS institutions.

Results: There were 484 (65%) thymomas, 207 (28%) thymic carcinomas and 49 (7%) neuroendocrine thymic tumours. Read More

Clin Cancer Res 2019 Apr 15;25(7):2144-2154. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.

Purpose: To investigate blood-based dynamic biomarkers that predict responses to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy in solid tumors.

Experimental Design: Preplanned biomarker analysis was performed as part of a phase II clinical trial (NCT02607631) in patients with metastatic or refractory thymic epithelial tumors (TETs; = 31) who received pembrolizumab. The biomarker was further tested in an independent cohort of prospectively recruited patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received pembrolizumab or nivolumab (NSCLC cohort 1; = 33) and validated in an independent cohort of patients with NSCLC (NSCLC cohort 2; = 46). Read More

Pituitary 2019 Apr;22(2):113-123

Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100730, China.

Purpose: To explore the clinical characteristics of pituitary adenomas in patients with MEN1 and to summarize treatment strategies for MEN1 in a Chinese population.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 54 MEN1 patients with pituitary adenomas diagnosed at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from March 2003 to January 2017. Clinical data, laboratory testing results, treatments of involved glands and treatment responses were collected and analyzed. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2018 13;9:253. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Neurophysiology, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.

Background: Spinal dissemination of thymic tumors is rare but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of thoracic dumbbell-shaped lesions and/or vertebral tumors, irrespective of the time since the initial diagnosis.

Case Description: A 63-year-old man, with a history of invasive type AB thymoma treated 21 years ago, newly presented to the hospital with a dumbbell-shaped T8-T9 lesion compressing the spinal cord. A review of the literature showed only 16 previous cases of thymic tumors with thoracic spine involvement. Read More

Thorac Cancer 2019 Mar 9;10(3):445-451. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Department of Pathology, GROW-School for Oncology & Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Background: The etiology of thymic epithelial tumors is unknown. Murine polyomavirus strain PTA has been shown to induce thymomas in mice. Recently, using diverse molecular techniques, we reported the presence of human polyomavirus 7 (HPyV7) in thymic epithelial tumors. Read More

Biol Pharm Bull 2019 ;42(1):10-17

Engineering Research Centre of Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University.

Inonotus hispidus is an anti-tumour drug used in folk medicine. (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxycyclohex-2-enone (HDE) is a compound isolated from Inonotus hispidus for the first time. However, the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects have not been elucidated. Read More

Cancer Med 2019 Jan 1;8(1):216-226. Epub 2019 Jan 1.

General Thoracic Surgery, Toneyama National Hospital, Toneyama, Japan.

Background: The significance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and immune checkpoint proteins in thymic carcinoma remains unknown. We examined the clinical significance of EMT, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes expressing the immune checkpoint protein, programmed cell death 1 (PD-1 + TILs), and the expression of PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) in thymic carcinoma (TC). We also investigated the relationships between these immune checkpoint proteins and the EMT status and examined the impact of induction chemotherapy on patients with tumors that express these proteins. Read More

Bull Cancer 2018 Dec;105 Suppl 1:S16-S23

Sorbonne Université, GRC N° 04, Theranoscan, AP-HP, Hôpital Tenon, F-75020, Paris, France; Service de pneumologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Tenon, F-75020, Paris, France. Electronic address:

Immunotherapy In Thoracic Oncology: STATE OF THE ART AND PERSPECTIVES: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are monoclonal antibodies that inhibit molecular interaction between an immune checkpoint and its ligand, which leads to increased anti-tumoral immune response, Programmed Death 1 (PD-1) and Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Associated-4 (CTLA-4) are the most commonly known immune checkpoints. ICIs are currently placed early in the course of the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In France, approvals have been pronounced for nivolumab and pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1 antibodies) as second-line treatments after chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC, and pembrolizumab has been approved as a first-line treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC, without EGFR mutation or ALK rearrangement, with strong (≥50%) PD-L1 (Programmed Death Ligand 1) expression. Read More

Bull Cancer 2018 Dec;105 Suppl 1:S113-S120

Fondation Synergie-Lyon-Cancer, 28, rue Laennec, 69008 Lyon, France.

The New Vaccine Approaches In Oncology: The concept of cancer vaccine relies on the induction of an adaptive immune response against antigens presented by tumor cells, in order to allow a long-term control of the tumor. First generations of cancer vaccines have been associated with relatively disappointing clinical results. The therapeutic breakthrough provided by the immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1/PD-L1, and the demonstration of the key role played by mutation-associated neoantigens in anti-tumor T cell response, have led to a renaissance of cancer vaccination. Read More

Kyobu Geka 2018 12;71(13):1136-1139

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Kobe Hospital, Kobe, Japan.

A 76-year-old man was referred to our division because of an abnormal shadow on chest computed tomography (CT). CT revealed a 20 mm nodule in the anterior mediastinum. Non-ivasive thymoma was suspected and thymomectomy and resection of right thymus was performed. Read More

Ann Surg 2018 Dec 21. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

INSERM, U1231, Epidemiology and Clinical Research in Digestive Cancers Team, Dijon, France.

Objective: To assess the distant metastatic potential of duodeno-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (DP-NETs) in patients with MEN1, according to functional status and size.

Summary Background Data: DP-NETs, with their numerous lesions and endocrine secretion-related symptoms, continue to be a medical challenge; unfortunately they can become aggressive tumors associated with distant metastasis, shortening survival. The survival of patients with large nonfunctional DP-NETs is known to be poor, but the overall contribution of DP-NETs to metastatic spread is poorly known. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(51):e13796

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Rationale: Malignant thymoma in the spine is a rare disease without standard curative managements so far. The objective of this article is to report a very rare case of recurrent malignant thymoma with sacrum metastases causing severe lumbosacral pain, which was presented with acute radiculopathy and treated with 2 operations combined with stabilization and cement augmentation. The management of these unique cases is not well-documented. Read More