Skip to main content

Complementary Treatments in Thymic Neoplasms: Steroids and Octreotide

  • Chapter
Thymus Gland Pathology

Abstract

Permanent control of disease in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic thymic tumors can be difficult to obtain [1]. Alternative treatment strategies have been tested. Following, we will focus on the basic knowledge supporting clinical treatment with steroids and/or somatostatin analogs in thymic epithelial tumors (TET).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Thomas CR, Wright CD, Loehrer PJ (1999) Thymoma: State of the art. J Clin Oncol 17:2280–2289

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Müller-Hermelink HK, Marx A (1999) Pathological aspects of malignant and benign thymic disorders. Ann Med 31(Suppl 2):5–14

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Rosai J, Sobin LH (1999) Histological typing of tumors of the thymus. In: Word Health Organization, International Histological Classification of Tumors, Germany, Heidelberg, pp 1–65

    Google Scholar 

  4. Almog C, Pik A, Weisberg D, Herczeg E (1978) Regression of malignant thymoma with metastases after treatment with adrenocortical steroids. Isr J Med Sci 14:476–480

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Mizuno T, Hashimoto T, Yamakawa Y et al (1992) A case of small thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis in which the tumor was reduced by corticosteroid therapy. Nippon Kyobu Geha Gakkai Zasshi 40:975–977

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fujiwara T, Mizobuchi T, Shibuya K et al (2007) Rapid regression of stage IVb invasive thymoma under palliative corticosteroid administration. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 55:180–183

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Barratt S, Puthucheary ZA, Plummeridge M (2007) Complete regression of a thymoma to glucocorticoids, commenced for palliation of symptoms. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 31:1142–1143

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hu E, Levine J (1986) Chemotherapy of malignant thymoma. Case report and review of the literature. Cancer 57:1101–1104

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Suda T, Sugimura S, Hattori Y et al (1998) High-dose methylprednisolone-containing chemotherapy in advanced invasive thymoma-report of three cases. Nippon Kyobu Geha Gakkai Zasshi 46:115–120

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Dardenne M, Itoh T, Homo-Delarche F (1986) Presence of glucocorticoid receptors in cultured thymic epithelial cells. Cell Immunol 100:112

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Dardenne M, Savino W (1990) Neuroendocrine control of the thymic epithelium: Modulation of thymic endocrine function, cytokeratin expression and cell proliferation by hormones and neuropeptides. Progr Neuro Endocrin Immunol 3:18–25

    Google Scholar 

  12. Funakoshi Y, Shiono H, Inoue M et al (2005) Glucocorticoids induce G1 cell cycle arrest in human neo-plastic thymic epithelial cells. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 131:314–322

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Tandan R, Taylor R, Di Costanzo DP et al (1990) Metastasizing thymoma and myasthenia gravis. Favorable response to glucocorticoids after failed chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Cancer 65:1286–1290

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kirkove C, Berghmans J, Noel H, van de Merckt J (1992) Dramatic response of recurrent invasive thymoma to high doses of corticosteroids. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol) 4:64–66

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Hayashi M, Taira M, Yamawaki I, Ohkawa S (2006) High-dose methylprednisolone with chemotherapy for invasive thymoma: A case report. Anticancer Res 26(5B):3645–3648

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Yokoi K, Matsuguma H, Nakahara R et al (2007) Multidisciplinary treatment for advanced invasive thymoma with cisplatin, doxorubicin, and methylprednisolone. J Thorac Oncol 2:73–78

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Kobayashi Y, Fujii Y, Yano M et al (2006) Preoperative steroid pulse therapy for invasive thymoma: Clinical experience and mechanism of action. Cancer 106:1901–1907

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Tiseo M, Monetti F, Ferrarini M et al (2005) CASE 1. Complete remission to corticosteroids in an octreotiderefractory thymoma. J Clin Oncol 23:1578–1579

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Green JD, Forman WH (1974) Response of thymoma to steroids. Chest 65:114–116

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Palmieri G, Lastoria S, Colao A et al (1997) Successful treatment of a patient with a thymoma and pure-red cell aplasia with octreotide and prednisone. N Engl J Med 336:263–265

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Krulich L, Dhariwal APS, McCann SM (1968) Stimulatory and inhibitory effect of purified extracts on growth hormone release from rat pituitary in vitro. Endocrinology 83:783–790

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Schonbrunn A (1999) Somatostatin receptors present knowledge and future directions. Ann Oncol 10(Suppl 2):17–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Eriksson B, Oberg K (1999) Summing up 15 years of somatostatin analog therapy in neuroendocrine tumors: Future outlook. Ann Oncol 10(Suppl 2):S31–S38

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Schultz S, Schultz S, Schmitt J et al (1998) Immunocytochemical detection of somatostatin receptors sst1, sst2A, sst2B and sst3 in paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissue using subtype-specific antibodies. Clin Cancer Res 4:2047–2052

    Google Scholar 

  25. Nilsson S, Reubi JC, Kalkner KM et al (1995) Metastatic hormone-refractory prostatic adenocarcinoma expresses somatostatin receptors and is visualized in vivo by [111In]-labeled DTPA-D-[Phe1]-octreotide scintigraphy. Cancer Res 55:5805s–5810s

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Reubi JC, Waser B, van Hagen PM et al (1992) In vivo and in vitro detection of somatostatin receptors in human malignant lymphomas. Int J Cancer 50:895–900

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. van Hagen PM, Hofland LJ, ten Bokum AMC et al (1999) Neuropeptides and their receptors in the immune system. Ann Med 31(Suppl 2):15–22

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Guillermet-Guilbert J, Lahlou H, Cordelier P et al (2005) Physiology of somatostatin receptors. J Endocrinol Invest 28(Suppl 11):5–9

    Google Scholar 

  29. Adams RL, Adams IP, Lindow SW et al (2005) Somatostatin receptors 2 and 5 are preferentially expressed in proliferating endothelium. Br J Cancer 92:1493–1498

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Ferone D, van Hagen PM, Colao A et al (1999) Somatostatin receptors in the thymus. Ann Med 31(Suppl 2):28–33

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Dardenne M (1999) Role of thymic peptides as transmitters between the neuroendocrine and immune system. Ann Med 31(Suppl 2):34–39

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Hofland LJ, van Hagen PM, Lamberts SWJ (1999) Functional role of somatostatin receptors in neuroendo crine and immune cells. Ann Med 31(Suppl 2):23–27

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Fuller PJ, Verity K (1989) Somatostatin gene expression in the thymus gland. J Immunol 143:1015–1017

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Savino W, Arzt E, Dardenne M (1999) Immuno-neuroendocrine connectivity: The paradigm of the thymus-hypothalamus/pituitary axis. Neuroimmuno-modulation 6:126–136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Reubi JC, Waser B, Horisberger U et al (1993) In vitro autoradiographic and in vivo scintigraphic localization of somatostatin receptors in human lymphatic tissue. Blood 82:2143–2151

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Reubi JC, Horisberger U, Kappeler A et al (1998) Localization of receptors for vasoactive intestinal peptide, somatostatin, and substance P in distinct compartments of human lymphoid organs. Blood 92:191–197

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Ferone D, van Hagen PM, van Koetsveld PM et al (1999) In vitro characterization of somatostatin receptors in the human thymus and effects of somatostatin and octreotide on cultured thymic epithelial cells. Endocrinology 140:373–380

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Timsit J, Savino W, Safieh B et al (1992) Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I stimulate hormonal function and proliferation of thymic epithelial cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 75:183–188

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Ferone D, van Hagen PM, Kweekkeboom DJ et al (2000) Somatostatin receptor subtypes in human thymoma and inhibition of cell proliferation by octreotide in vitro. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85:1719–1726

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Ferone D, Kwekkeboom DJ, Pivonello R et al (2001) In vivo and in vitro expression of somatostatin receptors in two human thymomas with similar clinical presentation and different histological features. J Endocrinol Invest 24:522–528

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Lastoria S, Palmieri G, Ferone D et al (2001) In vitro and in vivo detection of somatostatin receptors in thymic tumors. 9th European Congress of Endocrinology, Torino

    Google Scholar 

  42. Lauriola L, Erlandson RA, Rosai J (1998) Neuroendocrine differentiation is a common feature of thymic carcinoma. Am J Surg Pathol 22:1059–1066

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Hishima T, Fukayama M, Hayashi Y et al (1998) Neuroendocrine differentiation in thymic epithelial tumors with special reference to thymic carcinoma and atypical thymoma. Hum Pathol 29:330–338

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Lastoria S, Vergara E, Palmieri G et al (1998) In vivo detection of malignant thymic masses by Indium-111-DTPA-d-Phe1-octreotide scintigraphy. J Nucl Med 39:634–639

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Lastoria S, Palmieri G, Muto P, Lombardi G (1999) Functional imaging of thymic disorders. Ann Med 31(Suppl 2):63–69

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Palmieri G, Montella L, Martignetti A et al (2002) Somatostatin analogs and prednisone in advanced refractory thymic tumors. Cancer 94:1414–1420

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Loehrer PJ, Wang W, Johnson DH, Ettinger DS (2004) Octreotide alone or with prednisone in patients with advanced thymoma and thymic carcinoma: An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group phase II trial. J Clin Oncol 22:293–299

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Masci AM, Palmieri G, Vitiello L et al (2003) Clonal expansion of CD8+ BV8 T lymphocytes in bone marrow characterizes thymoma-associated B-lymphopenia. Blood 101:3106–3108

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Montella L, Masci A, Merkabaoui G et al (2003) B-cell lymphopenia and hypogammaglobulinemia in thymoma patients. Ann Hematol 82:343–347

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer-Verlag Italia

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Montella, L., Palmieri, G. (2008). Complementary Treatments in Thymic Neoplasms: Steroids and Octreotide. In: Lavini, C., Moran, C.A., Morandi, U., Schoenhuber, R. (eds) Thymus Gland Pathology. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0828-1_28

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0828-1_28

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-0827-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-0828-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics