title: Treatment of metastatic neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus with capecitabine and temozolomide: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metastatic neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus are exceedingly rare with an annual incidence of approximately 0.2 per 1,000,000. They are highly resistant to therapy and there have been no reports of an objective radiographic response to treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors retrospectively evaluated 3 patients with progressive, metastatic neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus who were treated with a combination of capecitabine and temozolomide. Radiographic scans were evaluated and response assessed using RECIST criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One patient experienced a partial radiographic response, another patient experienced a minor response and the third patient experienced stable disease as the best response to treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of capecitabine and temozolomide appears to be active in a rare neuroendocrine malignancy that is generally refractory to systemic therapy. Prospective multicenter trials are needed to validate this strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Vita
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Saranga-Perry
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Centeno
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kvols
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strosberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000077204:Temozolomide; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003606:Dacarbazine; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000077204:Temozolomide