Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
A Three-dimensional Thymic Culture System to Generate Murine Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Tumor Antigen-specific Thymic Emigrants
Published on: August 9, 2019
Capecitabine and Temozolomide as a Promising Therapy for Advanced Thymic Atypical Carcinoid
Xin Wang1,2, Yuanliang Li1,2, Jianghui Duan3
1Department of Integrative Oncology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Thymic atypical carcinoid (TAC) is a rare thymic neuroendocrine tumor that originates in the neuroendocrine system and lacks a standardized treatment. The combination of capecitabine (CAP) and temozolomide (TEM) is associated with an extremely high and long-lasting response rate in patients with metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. However, there is little evidence showing that the CAPTEM regimen is effective for TAC. For patients with unresectable or metastatic atypical carcinoid of the thymus, few treatment options are available, and the treatment efficacy is not satisfactory. To explore the efficacy and safety of the CAPTEM regimen against TAC, we conducted a retrospective review.
Patients And Methods:
A total of nine patients with advanced atypical carcinoid of the thymus in the China-Japan Friendship Hospital were treated with capecitabine (750 mg/m2 twice daily, days 1-14) and temozolomide (200 mg/m2 once daily, days 10-14) every 28 days between 2014 and 2018. The disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and adverse effects after treatment were analyzed. The DCR was calculated by RECIST version 1.1. Progression-free survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier survival method.
Results:
A total of nine patients (six male and three female) were included. The median age at CAPTEM initiation was 50 years (range, 26-58). The median number of CAPTEM cycles was 8 (range, 3-23). The DCR was 89% (8/9), with eight patients achieving stable disease. Only one patient (11%) showed progressive disease. The median PFS was 8 months. Because we applied vitamin B6 and ondansetron before administering the drugs, the side effects of this regimen were very small. Adverse reactions were all below grade 3 and included myelosuppression and digestive tract reaction.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest that the CAPTEM regimen may be effective and well tolerated for the treatment of TAC. More evidence is needed to validate the effectiveness of this regimen.
Implications For Practice:
Capecitabine and temozolomide regimen is effective and well tolerated in patients with advanced thymic atypical carcinoid.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents
00:59Gene Therapy
02:22Overview of Advanced Functional Groups
Functional groups are groups of atoms with specific chemical properties that occur within organic molecules and are sometimes denoted as “R”. Functional groups can “functionalize” a compound by enabling it to adopt different physical and chemical properties.
Types of Advanced Functional Groups
The table below summarizes some of the major functional groups in organic chemistry.
00:56Extraction: Advanced Methods
01:26Group Therapy
02:49Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...