Efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with antiangiogenic therapy for thymic epithelial tumors (TETs): a retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with antiangiogenic therapy have shown promising antitumor activity against a range of advanced cancers. However, evidence is lacking as to whether this combination therapy could benefit thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). We aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of this combination therapy in advanced TETs.Methods: Ten patients with pathologically proven advanced TETs who received ICIs combined with an antiangiogenic agent from 2020 to 2022 at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital were included in the study. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the treatment efficacy and survival outcomes.Results: Of the cohort of ten patients who received immunotherapy combined with antiangiogenic targeting drugs, two patients achieved a partial response (PR) with an objective response rate of 20% and seven patients achieved stable disease (SD) with a disease control rate (DCR) of 90%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.35-8.515] and the median overall survival (OS) was 45.6 months (95% CI: 3.265-88.001). Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were only detected in one patient. No grade 4 or above TRAEs were observed.Conclusions: ICIs in combination with antiangiogenic targeted drugs may be a promising treatment for advanced TETs.

Poor efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment in advanced thymic carcinoma patients with liver metastases

“… 37 Our team has performed a retrospective study using 10 patients with thymic epithelial tumors receiving immunotherapy combined with antiangiogenic therapy. 38 The results showed promising antitumor activity and a PFS of 6.7 months. 38 Similarly, the present study demonstrated a PFS of 6.8 months for immunotherapy combined with antiangiogenic therapy in the latter-line therapy group of advanced thymic carcinoma patients with liver metastases.…”

“… 38 The results showed promising antitumor activity and a PFS of 6.7 months. 38 Similarly, the present study demonstrated a PFS of 6.8 months for immunotherapy combined with antiangiogenic therapy in the latter-line therapy group of advanced thymic carcinoma patients with liver metastases. Although advanced thymic carcinoma patients with liver metastases showed poor immunotherapy efficacy, the combination therapy with antiangiogenic therapy may still present a new opportunity for the latter-line therapy group patients with liver metastases.…”