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Gemcitabine in patients previously treated with platinum-containing chemotherapy for refractory thymic carcinoma: radiographic assessment using the RECIST criteria and the ITMIG recommendations

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Abstract

Background

The key drugs for chemotherapy of thymic carcinoma are gradually being revealed in phase II and conventional retrospective studies. Gemcitabine is regarded as one of these key drugs according to the findings of clinical trials in which it was combined with capecitabine. However, the activity of single-agent gemcitabine concerning refractory thymic carcinoma remains unclear.

Patients and methods

We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of refractory thymic carcinoma patients previously treated with platinum-containing chemotherapy between 1980 and 2014.

Results

Of all 11 patients in this study, the objective response rate regarding gemcitabine was 36.4 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 15.2–64.6] using the RECIST criteria and the response criteria proposed by the ITMIG. The median progression-free survival time was 4.3 months (95 % CI 0.7–11.0). The survival time from the start of gemcitabine treatment was 28.5 months (95 % CI 5.5–47.8), and from the start of first-line chemotherapy was 46.5 months (95 % CI 7.3–47.8).

Conclusions

Gemcitabine achieved a moderate response and has the potential to be used as a key drug for thymic carcinoma. Some patients treated with gemcitabine demonstrated prolonged cancer control even in later lines of chemotherapy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious diseases Center Komagome Hospital, 3-18-22 Honkomagome, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8677, Japan

    Yusuke Okuma, Yukio Hosomi, Kageaki Watanabe, Satoshi Takahashi & Tatsuru Okamura

  2. Division of Oncology, Research Center for Medical Sciences, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Minato, Tokyo, Japan

    Yusuke Okuma

  3. Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Satoshi Takahashi

  4. Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Tsunekazu Hishima

Authors
  1. Yusuke Okuma
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  2. Yukio Hosomi
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  3. Kageaki Watanabe
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  4. Satoshi Takahashi
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  5. Tatsuru Okamura
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  6. Tsunekazu Hishima
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yusuke Okuma.

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Okuma, Y., Hosomi, Y., Watanabe, K. et al. Gemcitabine in patients previously treated with platinum-containing chemotherapy for refractory thymic carcinoma: radiographic assessment using the RECIST criteria and the ITMIG recommendations. Int J Clin Oncol 21, 531–538 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-015-0926-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-015-0926-0

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