From Inoperable to Remission: Complete Response in Advanced Thymoma B3 With Immunotherapy-A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Thymoma is a rare thymic epithelial tumor.
• Advanced thymoma often presents with poor prognosis, especially after incomplete resection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of advanced thymoma treated with a multimodal approach.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of pembrolizumab immunotherapy in conjunction with surgery and radiotherapy for thymoma.

Main Methods:

• A 30-year-old female with type B3 thymoma underwent incomplete thymectomy (R2 resection).
• Adjuvant radiotherapy and prolonged pembrolizumab immunotherapy were administered.
• Serial imaging, including PET scans, monitored tumor response.

Main Results:

• The patient achieved marked tumor regression with residual metabolically inactive tissue.
• Favorable outcome observed despite incomplete initial resection.
• Pembrolizumab demonstrated effectiveness in controlling aggressive thymoma post-surgery.

Conclusions:

• A multimodal strategy including immune checkpoint blockade is effective for advanced thymoma.
• Pembrolizumab shows potential in improving outcomes for aggressive thymoma with residual disease.
• This case contributes to limited evidence on pembrolizumab use after incomplete thymectomy.