An Overview on Molecular Characterization of Thymic Tumors: Old and New Targets for Clinical Advances

Thymic tumors are a group of rare mediastinal malignancies that include three different histological subtypes with completely different clinical behavior: the thymic carcinomas, the thymomas, and the rarest thymic neuroendocrine tumors. Nowadays, few therapeutic options are available for relapsed an...

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Main Authors: Valentina Tateo, Lisa Manuzzi, Claudia Parisi, Andrea De Giglio, Davide Campana, Maria Abbondanza Pantaleo, Giuseppe Lamberti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/14/4/316
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author Valentina Tateo
Lisa Manuzzi
Claudia Parisi
Andrea De Giglio
Davide Campana
Maria Abbondanza Pantaleo
Giuseppe Lamberti
author_facet Valentina Tateo
Lisa Manuzzi
Claudia Parisi
Andrea De Giglio
Davide Campana
Maria Abbondanza Pantaleo
Giuseppe Lamberti
author_sort Valentina Tateo
collection DOAJ
description Thymic tumors are a group of rare mediastinal malignancies that include three different histological subtypes with completely different clinical behavior: the thymic carcinomas, the thymomas, and the rarest thymic neuroendocrine tumors. Nowadays, few therapeutic options are available for relapsed and refractory thymic tumors after a first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. In the last years, the deepening of knowledge on thymus’ biological characterization has opened possibilities for new treatment options. Several clinical trials have been conducted, the majority with disappointing results mainly due to inaccurate patient selection, but recently some encouraging results have been presented. In this review, we summarize the molecular alterations observed in thymic tumors, underlying the great biological differences among the different histology, and the promising targeted therapies for the future.
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spelling doaj.art-88a89b8054c34bcaa5e3c53af530cd172023-11-21T13:46:42ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472021-04-0114431610.3390/ph14040316An Overview on Molecular Characterization of Thymic Tumors: Old and New Targets for Clinical AdvancesValentina Tateo0Lisa Manuzzi1Claudia Parisi2Andrea De Giglio3Davide Campana4Maria Abbondanza Pantaleo5Giuseppe Lamberti6Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola University Hospital, Via P. Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, ItalyThymic tumors are a group of rare mediastinal malignancies that include three different histological subtypes with completely different clinical behavior: the thymic carcinomas, the thymomas, and the rarest thymic neuroendocrine tumors. Nowadays, few therapeutic options are available for relapsed and refractory thymic tumors after a first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. In the last years, the deepening of knowledge on thymus’ biological characterization has opened possibilities for new treatment options. Several clinical trials have been conducted, the majority with disappointing results mainly due to inaccurate patient selection, but recently some encouraging results have been presented. In this review, we summarize the molecular alterations observed in thymic tumors, underlying the great biological differences among the different histology, and the promising targeted therapies for the future.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/14/4/316thymic epithelial tumorsthymomathymic carcinomathymic neuroendocrine tumorstargeted therapymolecular
spellingShingle Valentina Tateo
Lisa Manuzzi
Claudia Parisi
Andrea De Giglio
Davide Campana
Maria Abbondanza Pantaleo
Giuseppe Lamberti
An Overview on Molecular Characterization of Thymic Tumors: Old and New Targets for Clinical Advances
Pharmaceuticals
thymic epithelial tumors
thymoma
thymic carcinoma
thymic neuroendocrine tumors
targeted therapy
molecular
title An Overview on Molecular Characterization of Thymic Tumors: Old and New Targets for Clinical Advances
title_full An Overview on Molecular Characterization of Thymic Tumors: Old and New Targets for Clinical Advances
title_fullStr An Overview on Molecular Characterization of Thymic Tumors: Old and New Targets for Clinical Advances
title_full_unstemmed An Overview on Molecular Characterization of Thymic Tumors: Old and New Targets for Clinical Advances
title_short An Overview on Molecular Characterization of Thymic Tumors: Old and New Targets for Clinical Advances
title_sort overview on molecular characterization of thymic tumors old and new targets for clinical advances
topic thymic epithelial tumors
thymoma
thymic carcinoma
thymic neuroendocrine tumors
targeted therapy
molecular
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/14/4/316
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