title: Docetaxel for platinum-refractory advanced thymic carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thymic carcinoma is a rare mediastinal neoplasm. While platinum-based chemotherapy has been reported to be effective for advanced thymic carcinoma in a first-line setting, little information is available regarding the benefits of salvage chemotherapy for platinum-refractory thymic carcinoma. This study assessed the efficacy and safety profiles of docetaxel monotherapy for platinum-refractory thymic carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 13 thymic carcinoma patients treated with docetaxel monotherapy in a second- or later-line setting between January 2003 and April 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. The median age was 61 years (range, 41-75 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate and disease control rate were 31% [95% confidence interval (CI), 6-56%] and 77% (95% CI, 54-100%), respectively. The median progression-free survival and overall survival after docetaxel monotherapy were 5.5 months (95% CI, 2.3-6.5 months) and 24.0 months (95% CI, 9.4-31.2 months), respectively. The most common Grade ≥3 toxicity was neutropenia (62%). No incidents of febrile neutropenia and no treatment-related deaths were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This retrospective analysis demonstrated that docetaxel was active against platinum-refractory thymic carcinoma with acceptable toxicities. Docetaxel monotherapy might be a promising therapeutic option for patients with platinum-refractory thymic carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.
authors.forename: Naohiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan sumemura@east.ncc.go.jp.
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Umemura
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niho
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirita
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.
authors.forename: Shingo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyotaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoh
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohmatsu
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013945:Thymoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel
keywords: chemotherapy; docetaxel; platinum; thymic carcinoma