Lenvatinib rechallenge in a patient with advanced thymic carcinoma: A case report

Abstract

Advanced thymic carcinomas have limited treatment options. Recently, lenvatinib was approved for advanced thymic carcinoma treatment. However, the clinical benefit of lenvatinib re-administration in patients with advanced thymic carcinoma who developed prior lenvatinib treatment resistance (lenvatinib rechallenge) remains unclear. Here, we present a case treated with lenvatinib rechallenge for advanced thymic carcinoma who was previously treated with lenvatinib as the second-line treatment followed by multiple cytotoxic agents. Disease control rapidly deteriorated after the eighth line of treatment because of uncontrollable right pleural and pericardial effusion, which required repeated thoracic and pericardial drainage. Shortly after lenvatinib re-administration, rapid pleural and pericardial effusion reduction was observed. Thereafter, the patient achieved sustained clinical response with good pleural and pericardial effusion control for approximately 7 months. Our case might suggest lenvatinib rechallenge as a treatment option for patients with advanced thymic carcinoma, especially those with poor pleural and pericardial effusion control.

Successful resection after first‐line lenvatinib therapy in an advanced thymic carcinoma

“…Based on this study, lenvatinib was approved for unresectable thymic carcinoma in JAPAN 2021. Subsequently, several reports demonstrated the useful therapeutic effect of lenvatinib in specific clinical situations for patients with thymic carcinoma 6–8 . However, there have been no reports demonstrating successful surgical resection after a good response to first‐line lenvatinib therapy in advanced thymic carcinoma.…”