Successful Treatment of Advanced Thymic Carcinoma with Carboplatin plus nab-Paclitaxel and Maintenance Monotherapy with nab-Paclitaxel: Two Case Reports

Abstract

A standard chemotherapy regimen for advanced thymic carcinoma has not yet been established. We treated 2 cases of thymic carcinoma with carboplatin plus nanoparticle albumin-bound (<i>nab</i>)-paclitaxel, and <i>nab</i>-paclitaxel maintenance therapy. The first case was a 68-year-old female, admitted for dyspnea and left shoulder pain. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a huge mass in the anterior mediastinum, pleural and pericardial effusions, and multiple lung metastases. Specimens obtained from the anterior mediastinal mass by CT-guided needle biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus, which was in stage IVB. The patient was administered carboplatin plus <i>nab</i>-paclitaxel as first-line treatment. After 3 cycles of chemotherapy, a partial response was observed with marked shrinkage of the tumor. Following 6 cycles of chemotherapy, <i>nab</i>-paclitaxel maintenance therapy was initiated. Disease progression was seen 9.1 months after initiation of treatment. The patient experienced no serious adverse events. The second case was a 70-year-old male who had productive cough, dyspnea, and right-sided chest pain. Chest CT revealed a huge mass in the anterior mediastinum, pericardial effusion, and multiple lymphadenopathies. Specimens obtained from station 11s by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration revealed undifferentiated thymic carcinoma, which was in stage IVB. Six cycles of carboplatin plus <i>nab</i>-paclitaxel were administered, followed by 5 cycles of <i>nab</i>-paclitaxel for maintenance. A partial response was seen, which was sustained for more than 13 months. The patient experienced no serious adverse events. These cases show that chemotherapy with carboplatin plus <i>nab</i>-paclitaxel and <i>nab</i>-paclitaxel as maintenance therapy can be a useful regimen for advanced thymic carcinoma.