Targeted therapies for thymic malignancies.
Significant efforts have been made to dissect the molecular pathways involved in the carcinogenesis of thymic malignancies. Research is hampered by the rarity of the tumor, controversies about histopathologic classification, and the lack of established cell lines and animal models. Insights into the biology of these tumors have been made following anecdotal clinical responses to targeted therapies. This article reviews current knowledge about the molecular data that define molecular subsets and support the use of targeted therapies in thymic tumors.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Pilot Unit for the Management of Rare Intrathoracic Tumors, Louis Pradel Hospital, Lyon 69677, France. nicolas.gurard@chu-lyon.fr
Nicolas
N
Girard
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000235:genetics; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000502:physiology
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins