title: [Antibody-controlled cytostatic therapy of malignant thymoma with concomitant myasthenia gravis].
abstract: In a 46-year-old female patient with malignant thymoma and concomitant myasthenia gravis relapse with gravitational metastases occurred 6 1/2 years after the first operation. Metastases could be removed surgically only partially and were subsequently irradiated with 50 Gy. After 3 1/2 years renewed metastatic growth occurred. Until then the concomitant myasthenia had been stable during treatment with pyridostigmine and azathioprin and intermittent prednisone; acetylcholine receptor antibody titres had remained largely stable. Combined cytostatic treatment with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, prednisone and doxorubicin or cisplatin led to regression of metastases during the observation period of 1 1/2 years and at the same time to stabilisation of the myasthenia. Acetylcholine receptor antibody titres decreased and this was roughly paralleled by clinical improvement. Whereas there is no obvious correlation of antibodies against acetylcholine-receptor protein and tendency of tumour growth there is good agreement with the course of the accompanying myasthenia.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000276:immunology; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000276:immunology; D013945:Thymoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide; D001379:Azathioprine; D000109:Acetylcholine; D011241:Prednisone
vernacular_title: Antikörperkontrollierte zytostatische Therapie des malignen Thymoms bei begleitender Myasthenia gravis.