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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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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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. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:42:39Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-88a89b8054c34bcaa5e3c53af530cd17 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1424-8247 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:42:39Z |
publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Pharmaceuticals |
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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