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Pasquini G, Menichelli C, Pastore G, Casamassima F, Fabrini MG, Cappelli S, Valleggi S, Lucchesi M, Lucchi M, Ricciardi R, Maestri M, Guida M, Chella A, Petrini I. Stereotactic body radiation therapy for the treatment of pleural metastases in patients with thymoma: a retrospective review of 22 patients. J Thorac Dis 2022; 13:6373-6380. [PMID: 34992817 PMCID: PMC8662497 DOI: 10.21037/jtd-19-3799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background Thymomas can benefit of cytoreductive surgery even if a complete resection is not feasible. The pleural cavity is the most common site of progression and the resection of pleural metastases can be performed in selected patients. We evaluated the results of stereotactic body radiation therapy for the treatment of pleural metastases in patients not eligible for surgery. Methods We retrospectively selected 22 patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy for pleural metastases between 2013 and 2019. According to RECIST criteria 1.1 modified for thymic epithelial tumors, time to local failure and progression free survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method. Results The median age was 40 years (range, 29-73 years). There were 1 A, 3 AB, 3 B1, 3 B2, 3 B2/B3 and 9 B3 thymomas. Pleural metastases and primary tumor were synchronous in 8 patients. Five patients had a single pleural metastatic site and 17 presented multiple localizations. Sixteen patients received stereotactic body radiation therapy on multiple sites of pleural metastases. The median dose of radiation was 30 Gy (range, 24-40 Gy). With a median follow-up of 33.2 months (95% CI: 13.1-53.3 months), ten patients experienced disease progression with a median progression free survival was 20.4 months (95% CI: 10.7-30.0 months). The disease control rate was 79% and 41% after 1 and 2 years, respectively. Local disease control rate was 92% and 78% after 1 and 2 years, respectively. There were not significant differences in progression free survival between patients diagnosed with synchronous and metachronous metastases (P=0.477), across those treated or not with chemotherapy (P=0.189) and between those who received or not a previous surgical resection of the pleural metastases (P=0.871). There were not grade 3-4 toxicities related to the treatment. Conclusions Stereotactic body radiation therapy of pleural metastases is feasible and offers a promising local control of diseases. The impact of this treatment on patients' survival is hardly predictable because of the heterogeneous clinical behavior of thymomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Pasquini
- Medical Oncology, Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudia Menichelli
- Department of Radiotherapy, Institute of Clinical Research Ecomedica, Empoli, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pastore
- Department of Medical Physics, Institute of Clinical Research Ecomedica, Empoli, Italy
| | - Franco Casamassima
- Department of Radiotherapy, Institute of Clinical Research Ecomedica, Empoli, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Marco Lucchi
- Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgical Pathology, Molecular Medicine and Critical Area, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberta Ricciardi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Michelangelo Maestri
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Melania Guida
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio Chella
- Pneumology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Iacopo Petrini
- General Pathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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