What is a thymic carcinoma?

What is a thymic carcinoma?

Thymoma and thymic carcinoma, also called thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), are two types of rare cancers that can form in the cells that cover the outside surface of the thymus. The thymus is a small organ that lies in the upper chest above the heart and under the breastbone.

Can you survive thymic carcinoma?

If the thymic cancer is located only in the thymus, the 5-year survival rate is 92%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 77%. If the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the 5-year survival rate is 31%.

Who gets thymic carcinoma?

Age. The risk of this type of cancer goes up with age. This type of cancer is rare in children and young adults, is seen more often in middle-aged adults, and is most common in those in their 70s.

What is the difference between thymoma and Thymic carcinoma?

In a Thymic carcinoma, the tumors grow more quickly than thymomas and have a greater propensity for capsular invasion, metastases, and recurrence. They are usually advanced when diagnosed, and are often resistant to chemotherapy. Patients with thymic carcinoma have a worse survival compared with thymoma.

How is thymus cancer treated with chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy for Thymus Cancer. Chemotherapy (chemo) uses anti-cancer drugs that are given intravenously (IV or into a vein), as an injection (shot), or by mouth. These drugs enter the bloodstream and reach the whole body, making this treatment useful for cancer that may have spread to organs beyond the thymus.

What is the best chemotherapy drug for thymoma?

For example, the combination of cisplatin, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (called CAP) with or without prednisone is often used to treat thymoma. The combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel may be used to treat thymic carcinoma. Chemo drugs work by attacking cells that are dividing quickly, which is why they work against cancer cells.

What is the role of radiation in the treatment of thymoma?

Although historically thymoma and thymic carcinoma have been treated surgically, radiation therapy also has an important role, either as postoperative therapy to reduce the risk of mediastinal recurrence or as part of definitive treatment for patients who cannot undergo surgery.