Meta-analysis of studies of options for advanced thymic carcinoma after failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy

Thymic carcinoma (TC) is an aggressive disease with limited treatment options. Systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 trials (335 patients) compared options for advanced TC after failure of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. The ORRs varied from 9% to 38%. Median progression-free survival of 5 months or longer was seen with sunitinib, lenvatinib, pembrolizumab, capecitabine plus gemcitabine, everolimus, or S-1. Median overall survival of 20 months or longer was seen with S-1 or pembrolizumab, while this endpoint was not reached in trial evaluating lenvatinib, regorafenib, or sunitinib. The authors conclude that the analysis found limited treatment option upon relapse of TC.