Open AccessDocetaxel‐based chemotherapy as second‐line regimen for advanced thymic carcinoma
Author(s) -
Song Zhengbo,
Yu Xinmin,
He Chunxiao,
Zhang Beibei,
Zhang Yiping
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
thoracic cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.823
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 1759-7714
pISSN - 1759-7706
DOI - 10.1111/1759-7714.12064
Subject(s) - docetaxel , medicine , chemotherapy , regimen , thymic carcinoma , oncology , carcinoma , chemotherapy regimen
Thymic carcinoma is an uncommon neoplasm. The efficacy of second‐line treatment with docetaxel in advanced thymic carcinoma has not been well studied. Therefore, we conducted a review of the efficacy of docetaxel‐based chemotherapy as a second‐line regimen for advanced thymic carcinoma. Fifteen patients with advanced thymic carcinoma who received second‐line chemotherapy with docetaxel singlet or docetaxel/platinum combination chemotherapy regimens were retrospectively reviewed. There were 11 males and four females, with a median age of 53 years. Squamous cell carcinoma was most common (n = 10), followed by undifferentiated carcinoma (n = 4), and small cell carcinoma (n = 1). Eight patients received docetaxel/platinum combination chemotherapy and seven docetaxel mono‐therapy. Four patients showed partial responses, representing a response rate of 26.7%. The median progression‐free survival and overall survival in the 15 patients were 4.0 (2.8–5.2) and 22.0 (14.6–29.4) months, respectively. There was no difference in progression‐free survival between the docetaxel singlet or docetaxel/platinum combination chemotherapy (3.5 months vs. 4.0 months, P = 0.889). A docetaxel‐based regimen could be a potential therapeutic option as a second‐line chemotherapy for advanced thymic carcinoma.