Thymic carcinoma: current and future therapeutic interventions.
BACKGROUND
Since first reported just over 30 years ago, some progress has been made in our understanding of thymic cancer - an extremely rare cancer - and how to treat it. However, we are far from the ultimate goal of cure for most patients.


METHODS
This review provides an overview of the thymic gland's development; features of thymic carcinoma, including its molecular characterization, current staging, and treatment guidelines; and progress made to date for treating advanced disease, concluding with future directions and prospects.


RESULTS
As scientists apply new molecular tools to learn more about cancer, we find that even among common cancers, there exist heterogeneous subtypes necessitating different treatment paradigms. Thus, a one-size-fits-all approach to cancer treatment is being displaced with precision medicine to target the 'Achilles heel' of thymic tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
When approaching thymic carcinoma, we must identify the key driving forces to target its context(s) of vulnerability to ensure the greatest impact of treatment for patients with this extremely rare cancer.
Weiss
Glen J
GJ
Virginia G Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, Scottsdale, AZ 85238, USA. gweiss@tgen.org
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001691:Biological Therapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009857:Oncogenes; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D013945:Thymoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin