Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 24, 2026
Y-90 Radioembolization and PD-1 Inhibitor as Neoadjuvant Treatment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Published on: May 24, 2024
Sorafenib efficacy in thymic carcinomas seems not to require c-KIT or PDGFR-alpha mutations
Maria Pagano1, Nuria Maria Asensio Sierra2, Michele Panebianco2
1Department of Oncology and Advanced Technologies, Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera S.Maria Nuova/IRCCS of Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy pagano.maria@asmn.re.it.
Purpose:
To retrospectively evaluate sorafenib activity and safety in patients with metastatic thymic carcinoma (TC) and to correlate outcome with c-KIT and PDGFR-alpha mutational status.
Patients And Methods:
Patients with metastatic thymic carcinoma treated with sorafenib after at least one prior line of chemotherapy were included. Objective response rate (ORR) and toxicity were evaluated. Analysis of c-KIT and PDGFR-alpha mutational status was performed retrospectively.
Results:
From October 2007 to August 2011, 5 patients with metastatic thymic carcinoma were evaluated. A median of 8 cycles of sorafenib (range=3-29) were administered. Two patients (40%) displayed a partial response (PR), two patients presented stable disease (SD), while one patient had progression. The median progression-free (PFS) and overall survival were 28 weeks and 92 weeks, respectively. At mutational analysis, only one patient with PR had c-KIT mutation in exon 17 and was successfully treated with sunitinib for 12 months after progression to sorafenib. No PDGFR-alpha mutations were found.
Conclusion:
Sorafenib activity seems independent from the c-KIT and PDGFR-alpha mutational status. After progression, sequence treatment with a different tyrosine kinase inhibitor can be considered. These results are promising and need further confirmation on larger, possibly prospective, series of patients.
Insights
Sorafenib showed activity in metastatic thymic carcinoma (TC), with responses independent of c-KIT/PDGFR-alpha mutations. Sequential tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy may benefit patients post-progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical research
- Clinical trials
Background:
- Metastatic thymic carcinoma (TC) has limited treatment options.
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like sorafenib are potential therapeutic agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess sorafenib's efficacy and safety in metastatic TC patients.
- To investigate the correlation between treatment outcomes and c-KIT/PDGFR-alpha mutational status.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 5 metastatic TC patients treated with sorafenib.
- Evaluation of objective response rate (ORR) and toxicity.
- Retrospective analysis of c-KIT and PDGFR-alpha mutations.
Main Results:
- Two partial responses (40%) and two stable disease cases observed.
- Median progression-free survival (PFS) of 28 weeks and overall survival of 92 weeks.
- One partial response patient had a c-KIT mutation; no PDGFR-alpha mutations found.
Conclusions:
- Sorafenib activity in metastatic TC appears independent of c-KIT/PDGFR-alpha mutations.
- Sequential TKI treatment is a viable option after sorafenib progression.
- Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these promising findings.
More Related Videos
06:38An Oncogenic Hepatocyte-Induced Orthotopic Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Cancer Arising in the Setting of Hepatic Inflammation and Fibrosis
Published on: September 12, 2019
06:08Establishment and Characterization of Patient-Derived Xenograft Models of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: June 2, 2023
Related Concept Videos
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers