Durable Response in Patients With Thymic Carcinoma Treated With Pembrolizumab After Prolonged Follow-Up

Giuseppe Giaccone; Chul Kim

doi:10.1016/j.jtho.2020.11.003

Durable Response in Patients With Thymic Carcinoma Treated With Pembrolizumab After Prolonged Follow-Up

J Thorac Oncol. 2021 Mar;16(3):483-485. doi: 10.1016/j.jtho.2020.11.003. Epub 2020 Nov 25.

Authors

Giuseppe Giaccone¹, Chul Kim²

Affiliations

¹ Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York; Georgetown, Washington, District of Columbia. Electronic address: gig4001@med.cornell.edu.
² Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York; Georgetown, Washington, District of Columbia.

PMID: 33248322
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2020.11.003

Abstract

Here, we present an update of a phase 2 study of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced thymic carcinoma who failed previous therapies. Duration of response was approximately 3 years, and median survival was in excess of 2 years with a 5-year survival rate of 18%. The higher than expected incidence of severe autoimmune disorders (15%) did not substantially increase with a longer follow-up. Pembrolizumab induces durable responses in patients with thymic carcinoma. Careful selection of patients and monitoring of toxicities are warranted.

Keywords: Pembrolizumab; Response; Survival; Thymic carcinoma.

Publication types

Clinical Trial, Phase II
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological* / therapeutic use
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Lung Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Thymoma* / drug therapy
Thymus Neoplasms* / drug therapy

Substances

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
pembrolizumab