AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Advanced chemorefractory epithelial thymic tumors are still a challenge in clinical oncology. A therapeutic approach targeting a key molecular pathway could be the ideal solution in a neoplasm that can overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the epithelial component. METHODS: A patient with metastatic heavily pretreated thymic carcinoma was evaluated for EGFR expression in the primary tumor. RESULTS: Strong EGFR expression was revealed by immunohistochemistry. The patient received erlotinib therapy but had obtained no response after four months of treatment. CONCLUSION: This preliminary experience suggests that erlotinib may not be a useful therapeutic choice in advanced pretreated thymic carcinomas.
AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Advanced chemorefractory epithelial thymic tumors are still a challenge in clinical oncology. A therapeutic approach targeting a key molecular pathway could be the ideal solution in a neoplasm that can overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the epithelial component. METHODS: A patient with metastatic heavily pretreated thymic carcinoma was evaluated for EGFR expression in the primary tumor. RESULTS: Strong EGFR expression was revealed by immunohistochemistry. The patient received erlotinib therapy but had obtained no response after four months of treatment. CONCLUSION: This preliminary experience suggests that erlotinib may not be a useful therapeutic choice in advanced pretreated thymic carcinomas.
Authors: Hyun-Sung Lee; Hee-Jin Jang; Rohan Shah; David Yoon; Masatsugu Hamaji; Ori Wald; Ju-Seog Lee; David J Sugarbaker; Bryan M Burt Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 2017-04-11 Impact factor: 12.531