- Cancer Types
Information about risk, prevention, screening, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and support for all cancers Cancer A to Z - Cancer Treatment
Cancer Treatment
Information about cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, clinical trials, proton therapy, complementary medicine, and cutting edge technologies.
- Risk and Prevention
- Cancer Drugs
- Support
Support
Ways for cancer patients and caregivers to cope with cancer, side effects, nutrition, general cancer support issues, grief/end of life issues, and shared survivor's experiences.
- Healthcare Professionals
- Clinical Trials
My Patient Treatment Binder
OncoLink Blogs
What's My Cancer Risk?
OncoPilot: Navigating Your Cancer Journey
Community Events Calendar
OncoLink eNews
Abramson Cancer CenterNCI CANCERLIT® Search: Malignant Thymoma - February 2002
National Cancer Institute®
Last Modified: February 1, 2002
Table of Contents
1
UI - 11778563
AU - Tan L; Qiu D; Wang Q
TI -
[Preoperative chemotherapy and operation for invasive Masaoke stage III
and IV a thymoma]
SO - Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi 2000 Jul;22(4):327-9
AD - Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhong Shan Hospital, Shanghai Medical
University, Shanghai 200032, China.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of preoperative chemotherapy on invasive
thymoma. METHODS: Fourteen patients with invasive thymoma (12 cases in
Masaoka stage III and 2 cases in stage IV a) were treated with 3-4
cycles of CAVP (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2 D1, adriamycin 30 mg/m2 or
epi-adriamycin 40 mg/m2 D1, vincristine 0.6 mg/m2 D1 or vindestine 3
mg/m2 D1, D8, cisplatin 30 mg/m2 D1, 2, 3). Following chemotherapy,
patients were operated within 1-3 months. In 10 patients, sternotomy was
performed and in 4 patients, anterolateral thoracotomy was performed.
Radiotherapy was given with a total dose of 50-60 Gy in all patients
except in those who were pathologically in complete remission. The
patients were followed up for 6 months to 3 years. RESULTS: After
chemotherapy, complete response was observed in 5 patients (35.7%) and
partial response in 9 patients (64.3%). Nine patients received radical
tumor resection and 5 patients received partial resection.
Histologic/examination of the surgical specimens showed fibrosis of the
remnant thymus in 5 patients. All but two patients survived in the
follow-up period. Patient died from distant metastases at 18 and 24
months after treatment, respectively. CONCLUSION: Preoperative
chemotherapy helps increase the resectability of stage III and IV a
invasive thymoma. A longer follow-up period and more patients are needed
to ascertain the impact of this treatment strategy on long-term
survival.
2
UI - 11815982
AU - Watanabe M; Yu SK; Sawafuji M; Kawamura M; Horinouchi H; Mukai M;
TI -
Kobayashi K
Enhanced expression of telomerase activity in thymoma and thymic
carcinoma tissues: a clinicopathologic study.
SO - Cancer 2002 Jan 1;94(1):240-4
AD - Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo,
Japan. masazumi@med.keio.ac.jp
BACKGROUND: Telomerase is a nucleoprotein complex that caps the physical
termini of all eukaryotic chromosomes. Because most malignant cells and
reproductive cells have telomerase activity, which elongates telomeric
DNA, telomerase may play important roles in unlimited cell division
acquisition of the malignant phenotype. The current study examined the
relation of telomerase activity in thymoma and thymic carcinoma with the
clinicopathologic features of these lesions. METHODS: Tissue specimens
were surgically resected from patients with thymoma and thymic
carcinoma. Telomerase activity was evaluated according to a modified
telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. Paraffin sections of
tumor were immunostained by MIC2 antibody, a marker of immature T cells.
RESULTS: Telomerase activity was detected in all thymic epithelial
tumors. The activity (mean +/- SD; unit per microg protein) in thymoma
(n = 17) was significantly higher than that in thymic carcinoma (n = 7)
(431.8 +/- 400.1 vs. 68.8 +/- 39.8; P < 0.01). Telomerase activities in
thymoma and thymic carcinoma were significantly higher than that in
primary lung adenocarcinoma (33.5 +/- 39.2, n = 47), studied as a
control (P < 0.01). In patients with thymoma, telomerase activity did
not correlate with tumor stage according to Masaoka classification (P =
0.776). In patients with thymic carcinoma, however, telomerase activity
positively correlated with tumor stage (P = 0.02). In thymoma,
telomerase activity positively correlated with the ratio of induced
lymphocytes according to Rosai's classification (P = 0.045).
MIC2-positive lymphocytes were identified in all cases of thymoma (n =
12). In contrast, lymphocytes infiltrating thymic carcinoma did not
react with MIC2. CONCLUSIONS: In thymoma, telomerase activity reflects
the presence of immature T-cell lymphocytes in tumor tissue rather than
tumor stage or malignant phenotype. In thymic carcinoma, telomerase
activity derived directly from cancer cells may relate to tumor stage.
Copyright 2002 American Cancer Society.
3
UI - 11735267
AU - Okumura M; Fujii Y; Miyoshi S; Shiono H; Inoue M; Kadota Y; Fukuhara K;
TI -
Matsuda H
Three-color flow cytometric study on lymphocytes derived from thymic
diseases.
SO - J Surg Res 2001 Dec;101(2):130-7
AD - Department of Surgery (E-1), Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka
University, Suita-City, Japan. meinosin@surg1.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
BACKGROUND: Anterior mediastinal masses derive from a variety of
diseases. Thymomas have been shown to commonly hold CD4(+)CD8(+)
double-positive (DP) lymphocytes, and identification of this subset by
two-color flow cytometric study was suggested to help diagnosis of
thymoma. Several other thymic diseases, however, possibly hold
CD4(+)CD8(+) DP lymphocytes. In this study, we utilized the three-color
flow cytometric method for further examination of the phenotypes of
lymphocytes in the thymic diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred
eight specimens (77 primary and 10 metastatic thymomas, 10 thymic
carcinomas, 2 thymic carcinoids, 4 malignant lymphomas, 2 seminomas, an
inflammatory pseudotumor, and 2 nonneoplastic thymic hyperplasias) were
subjected to the study. The expressions of CD3, CD4, and CD8 on
tumor-associated lymphocytes were evaluated by three-color flow
cytometric study. RESULTS: The proportion of the CD4(+)CD8(+) DP subset
was more than 30% in all 78 lymphocyte-rich thymomas, in 2 malignant
lymphomas, and in both thymic hyperplasias. CD3 expression of the
CD4(+)CD8(+) DP subset ranged from a negative to a high level in
thymomas and thymic hyperplasias, while it was restricted to a
particular level in CD4(+)CD8(+) DP-type malignant lymphomas. The
proportion of CD3(+) cells in the CD4(+)CD8(-) single-positive subset
was consistently less than 90% in the lymphocyte-rich thymomas, while it
was more than 90% in the thymic hyperplasias. CONCLUSION: Although
identification of the CD4(+)CD8(+) DP subset in the tumor-associated
lymphocytes does not necessarily indicate thymoma, a further
characterization of thymic neoplasms possessing the CD4(+)CD8(+) DP
subset was enabled by three-color flow cytometric study, suggesting the
utility of this method as an ancillary tool for differential diagnosis
of these diseases.
4
UI - 11808089
AU - Sakuraba M; Onuki T; Nitta S
TI -
Measurement of antiacetylcholine receptor antibody in patients with
thymoma without myasthenia gravis complications.
SO - Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001 Dec;49(12):690-2
AD - Department Surgery I, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan.
OBJECTIVE: Some patients with thymoma reported to show higher
antiacetylcholine receptor antibody titers without the preoperative
occurrence of myasthenia gravis and some have suffered postoperative
complications of myasthenia gravis despite being negative for
antiacetylcholine receptor antibody preoperatively. We evaluated changes
in antiacetylcholine receptor antibody titers and the occurrence of
myasthenia gravis in thymoma patients. METHODS: Subjects were 31 of 44
patients with thymoma undergoing thymothymectomy at Tokyo Women's
Medical University Hospital between 1987 to 1999 in whom
antiacetylcholine receptor antibody titers were measured preoperatively.
We studied postoperative changes in antiacetylcholine receptor antibody
titers and the presence or absence of myasthenia gravis. RESULTS: Eight
patients were positive for antiacetylcholine receptor antibody
preoperatively, suggesting the presence of subclinical myasthenia
gravis. Neither postoperative changes in antiacetylcholine receptor
antibody titers nor the occurrence of myasthenia gravis was observed in
these 8 patients. Recurrent thymoma and rapid elevation of
antiacetylcholine receptor antibody titers were observed postoperatively
in 1 patient negative for antiacetylcholine receptor antibody
preoperatively, resulting in manifestation of myasthenia gravis
symptoms. CONCLUSION: We found no correlation between preoperative
titers and myasthenia gravis symptoms. Rapid titer elevation indicates
the occurrence of myasthenia gravis symptoms or the recurrence of
thymoma.
5
UI - 11569925
AU - Shiraishi J; Utsuyama M; Akashi T; Nemoto T; Ohashi K; Akamatsu H;
TI -
Sunamori M; Kitagawa M; Hirokawa K
Immunohistological analysis of thymoma by molecules differentially
expressed in the thymic cortex and medulla, and its application in the
differential diagnosis of thymoma from esophageal and lung cancer.
SO - Pathol Res Pract 2001;197(9):611-9
AD - Department of Pathology and Immunology, Tokyo Medical and Dental
University Graduate School, Japan.
The purpose of this study was to verify the WHO classification of thymic
tumors using immunohistological methods, and to discover whether these
methods can be applied to differentiate thymoma from squamous cell
carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus and the lung. Twenty-nine thymoma cases
were classified according to WHO and were then immunohistologically
examined for the positivity of these molecules. All thymoma cases
investigated in this study were positive for IL-1R, and most of them
were also positive for bek. In contrast, UH-1 was highly positive in B1
and B2 type thymomas, but negative or weakly positive in A, AB and B3
type thymomas. Twelve esophageal cancers and 21 lung cancers were also
examined for the positivity of the same molecules. All esophageal
cancers were negative for UH-1. Three of 12 cases were weakly positive
for IL-1R, and four of these 12 cases were also weakly positive for bek.
Twelve of 21 lung cancer cases were adenocarcinomas, all of them
negative for IL-1R, bek and UH-1. Nine of 21 lung cancer cases were
SCCs, all of them negative for UH-1. Eight of nine SCC cases were
strongly positive for IL-1R, while seven of these were weakly positive
for bek. We conclude that the WHO classification of thymic tumors is
still valid as demonstrated by immunohistological analysis and that the
positivity of UH-1, IL- 1R and bek might be helpful in differentiating
thymoma from SCC of the esophagus and the lung.
6
UI - 11789012
AU - Martinek V; Matousovic K; Dvorak D; Bartunkova J; Stejskal J; Chadimova
TI -
M
[The kaleidoscope of autoimmune disorders: thymoma and systemic lupus
erythematosus]
SO - Vnitr Lek 2001 Oct;47(10):715-9
7
UI - 11837917
AU - Mehran R; Ghosh R; Maziak D; O'Rourke K; Shamji F
TI -
Surgical treatment of thymoma.
SO - Can J Surg 2002 Feb;45(1):25-30
AD - Division of Thoracic Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ont.
OBJECTIVE: To describe experience with the surgical treatment of
thymoma. DESIGN: A retrospective study. Setting: A teaching hospital at
the University of Ottawa. PATIENTS: Over 25 years, 42 consecutive
patients (22 men, 20 women) who had a thymoma requiring operation.
INTERVENTIONS: Thymectomy. OUTCOME MEASURES: Age, sex, association with
myasthenia gravis, presence of a paraneoplastic syndrome, extent of
surgical resection, tumour size, histologic features of the tumour,
clinical staging of the thymoma and short- and long-term outcome after
surgery. RESULTS: The mean (and standard deviation) age of the patients
was 52.8 (12.5) years. Thirteen patients had myasthenia gravis. With
respect to tumour staging, 24 patients had stage I, 7 had stage II and
11 had stage III disease. Three patients were lost to follow-up.
Radiotherapy was used as an adjunct to surgical treatment in 83% of
patients with stages II and III disease. Fifty-one percent of patients
available for follow-up survived 175.1 months, and the cumulative 5- and
10-year overall survival rates were 87.3% and 81.4% respectively. Only 1
patient died of metastatic thymoma. Complete or partial remission of
myasthenia gravis was seen in 10 (77%) affected patients. Mixed cellular
histologic features and a tumour size of less than 115 cm3 were more
commonly seen with stage I disease. CONCLUSIONS: Thymomas are
characterized by slow growth and prolonged survival even in patients
with invasive disease as long as the tumour is resected completely and
treatment is accompanied by radiotherapy.
8
UI - 11783072
AU - Lin D; Lu N; Zhang R
TI -
[An analysis of clinicopathologic features affecting prognosis of
thymoma]
SO - Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi 2001 Jan;23(1):57-9
AD - Cancer Institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking
Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
OBJECTIVE: To discuss the relationship between the clinicopathologic
characteristics and prognosis of thymoma. METHODS: One hundred and
thirty cases of thymoma were analyzed in terms of myasthenia gravis(MG),
tumor size, necrosis, mitosis, capsule, histologic type according to the
Lattes-Bernatz(L-B) classification and Muller-Hermelink(M-H)
classification, staging according to Masaoka. RESULTS: Association with
MG, size of tumor, necrosis, mitosis and L-B classification were of no
prognostic significance. The survival rate was higher in patients with a
well encapsulated tumor. According to the M-H subtypes, the prognosis
was better in patients in medullary type than in patients with cortical
type thymoma. In patients with well-differentiated thymic
carcinoma(WDTC), their 5-year survival rate was 43.4%, and none survived
at 10 years. The survival of patients decreased with the increase in
clinical stage of the disease. Cell atypia and invasion of neighboring
organs were of prognostic impact on survival. CONCLUSION: Histologic
typing according to M-H classification and clinical staging according to
Masaoka, cell atypia and invasion to neighboring organs are of
prognostic value in patients with thymoma.
9
UI - 11766079
AU - Sasaki H; Yukiue H; Kobayashi Y; Nakashima Y; Moriyama S; Kaji M;
TI -
Kiriyama M; Fukai I; Yamakawa Y; Fujii Y
Elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast
growth factor levels in patients with thymic epithelial neoplasms.
SO - Surg Today 2001;31(11):1038-40
AD - Department of Surgery II, Nagoya City University Medical School, Nagoya,
Japan.
Neovascularization, an essential event for the growth of solid tumors,
is regulated by a number of angiogenic factors, among which vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor
(bFGF), are considered to exert potent angiogenic activity. In this
study, we investigated whether serum VEGF and bFGF levels could be
predictors of the development and extension of thymic epithelial
neoplasms. The subjects of this study were 37 patients with thymoma, 6
with thymic carcinoma, and 23 healthy volunteers. Serum samples were
collected before clinical treatment. Serum VEGF levels were
significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in the patients with thymic carcinoma
(1,080 +/- 1,185pg/ml) compared with those in the healthy volunteers
(407 +/- 589 microg/ml). Serum bFGF levels were also significantly (P <
0.05) elevated in the patients with thymic carcinoma (2740 +/- 631
pg/ml) compared with those in the healthy volunteers (1728 +/- 1,192
pg/ml). However, the serum VEGF and bFGF levels did not significantly
differ between the patients with thymoma and the healthy volunteers.
Serum VEGF and bFGF levels did not significantly differ according to the
stage and pathological subtype of thymoma. Moreover, there was no
correlation between the serum levels of VEGF and those of bFGF. Thus,
while serum VEGF and bFGF levels may serve as markers for thymic
epithelial tumors, it is unlikely that circulating VEGF and bFGF could
be used as markers for assessing the progression of thymoma tumors.
10
UI - 11220734
AU - Yu Z; Kryzer TJ; Griesmann GE; Kim K; Benarroch EE; Lennon VA
TI -
CRMP-5 neuronal autoantibody: marker of lung cancer and thymoma-related
autoimmunity.
SO - Ann Neurol 2001 Feb;49(2):146-54
AD - Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
We have defined a new paraneoplastic immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibody
specific for CRMP-5, a previously unknown 62-kd neuronal cytoplasmic
protein of the collapsin response-mediator family. CRMP-5 is in adult
central and peripheral neurons, including synapses, and in small-cell
lung carcinomas. Since 1993, our Clinical Neuroimmunology Laboratory has
detected CRMP-5-IgG in 121 patients among approximately 68,000 whose
sera were submitted for standardized immunofluorescence screening
because a subacute neurological presentation was suspected to be
paraneoplastic. This makes CRMP-5 autoantibody as frequent as PCA-1
(anti-Yo) autoantibody, second only to ANNA-1 (anti-Hu). Clinical
information, obtained for 116 patients, revealed multifocal neurological
signs. Most remarkable were the high frequencies of chorea (11%) and
cranial neuropathy (17%, including 10% loss of olfaction/taste, 7% optic
neuropathy). Other common signs were peripheral neuropathy (47%),
autonomic neuropathy (31%), cerebellar ataxia (26%), subacute dementia
(25%), and neuromuscular junction disorders (12%). Spinal fluid was
inflammatory in 86%, and CRMP-5-IgG in 37% equaled or significantly
exceeded serum titers. Lung carcinoma (mostly limited small-cell) was
found in 77% of patients; thymoma was in 6%. Half of those remaining had
miscellaneous neoplasms; all but two were smokers. Serum IgG in all
cases bound to recombinant CRMP-5 (predominantly N-terminal epitopes),
but not to human CRMP-2 or CRMP-3.
The above citations and abstracts reflect those newly added to CANCERLIT for the month and topic listed in the title. The citations have been retrieved from CANCERLIT using a predefined search strategy of indexed subject terms. Although the search strategy has been refined as best as possible, citations may appear that are not directly related to the topic, and occasionally relevant references may be omitted.
Cancer Types
Bone Cancer
Brain Tumors
Breast Cancer
Carcinoid Tumors
Endocrine System Cancers
Gastrointestinal Cancers
Gynecologic Cancers
Head and Neck Cancers
Leukemia
Lung Cancers
Lymphomas
Myelomas
Pediatric Cancers
Penile Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Sarcomas
Skin Cancers
Testicular Cancer
Thyroid Cancer
Urinary Tract Cancers
OncoLink Vet
Cancer Treatment
Biologic Therapy
Bone Marrow Transplants
Chemotherapy
Clinical Trials
Complementary Medicine
Gene Therapy
General Treatment Concerns
Hormone Therapy
PDT Center
Proton Therapy
Radiation Oncology
Surgical Oncology
Targeted Therapies
Vaccine Therapies
Cancer Support
Caregivers
Hospice Care and Bereavement
Nutrition and Cancer
Sexuality & Fertility
Side Effects
Support
Survivorship
Exercise and Cancer
Cancer Resources
Cancer News
OncoLink University
Nurses' Notes
Conferences
Newly Diagnosed Patients
Causes and Prevention
Legal and Financial Information for Patients
LGBT Resources
NCI Resources
Global Resources
Cancer Resource List
Resources for Young Adults
OncoLink Media Library
OncoLink TV
Book, Music and Video Reviews
Ask the Experts
Brown Bag Chat
Tracy's Corner
About OncoLink
About OncoLink
Giving to OncoLink
Contact Information
Usage Policy
Editorial Board
How to Partner with OncoLink
Link to OncoLink
Mission Statement
