title: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, and postoperative radiation therapy for invasive thymoma.
abstract: Between January 1988 and June 1990, seven previously untreated patients with histologically confirmed and clinically staged IIIa invasive thymoma (IT) were enrolled in a prospective, single treatment arm study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) followed by surgery and postoperative radiation therapy (4600 to 6000 cGy). The NC included three cycles of cisplatin (75 mg/m2 on day 1), epirubicin (100 mg/m2 on day 1), and etoposide (120 mg/m2 on days 1, 3, and 5), every 3 weeks. All patients showed a partial response (greater than 50%) and underwent complete (n = 4) or incomplete (gross [n = 1] or microscopic [n = 2] residual tumor) surgical resection. Histologic examination was negative for two completely resected patients. Projected 2-year survival was 80%; all patients but one currently are alive and disease-free. This approach appeared to be feasible and may be a new therapeutic choice in the management of IT, but its use on a regular basis should be reserved until a larger number of patients and longer follow-up are available.
authors.affiliation: Service of Thoracic Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macchiarini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chella
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ducci
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Testi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Angeletti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D013945:Thymoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin