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Thymus squamous cell carcinoma

MedGen UID:
234814
•Concept ID:
C1336082
•
Neoplastic Process
Synonyms: Epidermoid Thymic Carcinoma; epidermoid thymic carcinoma; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thymus; squamous cell carcinoma of the Thymus; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Thymus; squamous cell carcinoma of Thymus; Thymic Squamous Cell Carcinoma; thymic squamous cell carcinoma; Thymus Squamous Cell Carcinoma; thymus squamous cell carcinoma
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0003493

Definition

A rare primary thymic carcinoma, characterized by the presence of keratinizing or non-keratinizing malignant squamous cells. Approximately 10-20% of cases occur in combination with thymoma. The prognosis depends on the tumor stage and the degree of cellular differentiation. [from NCI]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVThymus squamous cell carcinoma

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Carcinoma Showing Thymus-Like Differentiation (CASTLE): Cytopathological Features and Differential Diagnosis.
Collins JA, Ping B, Bishop JA, Ali SZ
Acta Cytol 2016;60(5):421-428. Epub 2016 Sep 17 doi: 10.1159/000448836. PMID: 27643719
About thymic carcinomas: challenges in diagnosis and management.
Mlika M, Boudaya S, Braham E, Chermiti F, Sayi A, Marghli A, El Mezni F
Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2016 May;24(4):350-4. Epub 2016 Mar 21 doi: 10.1177/0218492316640129. PMID: 27002097
Amrubicin as second-line and beyond treatment for platinum-refractory advanced thymic carcinoma.
Hirai F, Seto T, Yamanaka T, Toyozawa R, Inamasu E, Kojo M, Toyokawa G, Morodomi Y, Shiraishi Y, Takenaka T, Yamaguchi M, Takenoyama M, Ichinose Y
Jpn J Clin Oncol 2013 Oct;43(10):1018-22. Epub 2013 Aug 4 doi: 10.1093/jjco/hyt106. PMID: 23917962

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Insulinoma-associated-1 (INSM1) expression in thymic squamous cell carcinoma.
Kashima J, Hashimoto T, Yoshida A, Goto Y, Ushiku T, Ohe Y, Watanabe SI, Yatabe Y
Virchows Arch 2022 Dec;481(6):893-901. Epub 2022 Oct 28 doi: 10.1007/s00428-022-03437-x. PMID: 36305944
Overview of the 2022 WHO Classification of Thyroid Neoplasms.
Baloch ZW, Asa SL, Barletta JA, Ghossein RA, Juhlin CC, Jung CK, LiVolsi VA, Papotti MG, Sobrinho-Simões M, Tallini G, Mete O
Endocr Pathol 2022 Mar;33(1):27-63. Epub 2022 Mar 14 doi: 10.1007/s12022-022-09707-3. PMID: 35288841
Common and rare carcinomas of the thymus.
Roden AC, Szolkowska M
Virchows Arch 2021 Jan;478(1):111-128. Epub 2021 Jan 3 doi: 10.1007/s00428-020-03000-6. PMID: 33389148
The 2015 World Health Organization Classification of Lung Tumors: Impact of Genetic, Clinical and Radiologic Advances Since the 2004 Classification.
Travis WD, Brambilla E, Nicholson AG, Yatabe Y, Austin JHM, Beasley MB, Chirieac LR, Dacic S, Duhig E, Flieder DB, Geisinger K, Hirsch FR, Ishikawa Y, Kerr KM, Noguchi M, Pelosi G, Powell CA, Tsao MS, Wistuba I; WHO Panel
J Thorac Oncol 2015 Sep;10(9):1243-1260. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0000000000000630. PMID: 26291008
Cutaneous lymphoepithelial neoplasms.
Okamura JM, Barr RJ
Adv Dermatol 1997;12:277-94; discussion 295. PMID: 8973744

Diagnosis

Chromophobe-like carcinoma of the thymus: A clinicopathological and immunohistochemical correlation of 5 cases.
Weissferdt A, Moran CA
Pathol Res Pract 2023 Aug;248:154629. Epub 2023 Jun 19 doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154629. PMID: 37348289
Insulinoma-associated-1 (INSM1) expression in thymic squamous cell carcinoma.
Kashima J, Hashimoto T, Yoshida A, Goto Y, Ushiku T, Ohe Y, Watanabe SI, Yatabe Y
Virchows Arch 2022 Dec;481(6):893-901. Epub 2022 Oct 28 doi: 10.1007/s00428-022-03437-x. PMID: 36305944
Overview of the 2022 WHO Classification of Thyroid Neoplasms.
Baloch ZW, Asa SL, Barletta JA, Ghossein RA, Juhlin CC, Jung CK, LiVolsi VA, Papotti MG, Sobrinho-Simões M, Tallini G, Mete O
Endocr Pathol 2022 Mar;33(1):27-63. Epub 2022 Mar 14 doi: 10.1007/s12022-022-09707-3. PMID: 35288841
Common and rare carcinomas of the thymus.
Roden AC, Szolkowska M
Virchows Arch 2021 Jan;478(1):111-128. Epub 2021 Jan 3 doi: 10.1007/s00428-020-03000-6. PMID: 33389148
The 2015 World Health Organization Classification of Lung Tumors: Impact of Genetic, Clinical and Radiologic Advances Since the 2004 Classification.
Travis WD, Brambilla E, Nicholson AG, Yatabe Y, Austin JHM, Beasley MB, Chirieac LR, Dacic S, Duhig E, Flieder DB, Geisinger K, Hirsch FR, Ishikawa Y, Kerr KM, Noguchi M, Pelosi G, Powell CA, Tsao MS, Wistuba I; WHO Panel
J Thorac Oncol 2015 Sep;10(9):1243-1260. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0000000000000630. PMID: 26291008

Therapy

Comparison of Efficacy and Safety of Platinum-Based Chemotherapy as First-Line Therapy between B3 Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma.
Hao Y, Si J, Jin J, Wei J, Xiang J, Xu C, Song Z
Curr Oncol 2022 Dec 2;29(12):9452-9460. doi: 10.3390/curroncol29120743. PMID: 36547157Free PMC Article
Serum levels of squamous cell carcinoma antigens 1 and 2 reflect disease severity and clinical type of atopic dermatitis in adult patients.
Okawa T, Yamaguchi Y, Kou K, Ono J, Azuma Y, Komitsu N, Inoue Y, Kohno M, Matsukura S, Kambara T, Ohta S, Izuhara K, Aihara M
Allergol Int 2018 Jan;67(1):124-130. Epub 2017 Jul 19 doi: 10.1016/j.alit.2017.06.016. PMID: 28734739
Combination chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel for advanced thymic cancer.
Furugen M, Sekine I, Tsuta K, Horinouchi H, Nokihara H, Yamamoto N, Kubota K, Tamura T
Jpn J Clin Oncol 2011 Aug;41(8):1013-6. Epub 2011 Jul 7 doi: 10.1093/jjco/hyr089. PMID: 21742653
Cytotoxicity of Thymus vulgaris essential oil towards human oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.
Sertel S, Eichhorn T, Plinkert PK, Efferth T
Anticancer Res 2011 Jan;31(1):81-7. PMID: 21273584
Thymostimulin enhancement of T-cell infiltration into head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Kerrebijn JD, Simons PJ, Balm AJ, Tas M, Knegt PP, de Vries N, Tan IB, Drexhage HA
Head Neck 1996 Jul-Aug;18(4):335-42. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0347(199607/08)18:4<335::AID-HED4>3.0.CO;2-Z. PMID: 8780944

Prognosis

Clinicopathologic features, tumor immune microenvironment and genomic landscape of EBV-related and EBV-unrelated poorly differentiated nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus.
Zhang YJ, Xiong SP, Yang YZ, Fu S, Wang TM, Suster DI, Jiang GY, Zhang XF, Xiang J, Wu YX, Zhang WL, Cao Y, Huang YH, Yun JP, Liu QW, Sun Q, Chen Y, Yang X, Li Y, Wang EH, Liu JL, Zhang JB
Lung Cancer 2023 May;179:107178. Epub 2023 Mar 22 doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2023.107178. PMID: 37004385
Overview of the 2022 WHO Classification of Thyroid Neoplasms.
Baloch ZW, Asa SL, Barletta JA, Ghossein RA, Juhlin CC, Jung CK, LiVolsi VA, Papotti MG, Sobrinho-Simões M, Tallini G, Mete O
Endocr Pathol 2022 Mar;33(1):27-63. Epub 2022 Mar 14 doi: 10.1007/s12022-022-09707-3. PMID: 35288841
Common and rare carcinomas of the thymus.
Roden AC, Szolkowska M
Virchows Arch 2021 Jan;478(1):111-128. Epub 2021 Jan 3 doi: 10.1007/s00428-020-03000-6. PMID: 33389148
C-KIT mutation in thymic carcinomas.
Terzi N, Yilmaz I, Batur S, Yegen G, Yol C, Arikan E, Oz A
Pol J Pathol 2020;71(2):120-126. doi: 10.5114/pjp.2020.97019. PMID: 32729302
Thymomas and thymic carcinomas.
Walker AN, Mills SE, Fechner RE
Semin Diagn Pathol 1990 Nov;7(4):250-65. PMID: 2284513

Clinical prediction guides

PAX1 expression in thymic epithelial neoplasms and morphologic mimics.
Parrack PH, Hornick JL, Sholl LM
Hum Pathol 2023 Dec;142:7-14. Epub 2023 Sep 28 doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2023.09.007. PMID: 37776957
Intrathyroid thymic carcinoma: clinicopathological features and whole exome sequencing analysis.
Li J, Xiang R, Li Y, Liao Q, Liu Y
Virchows Arch 2023 May;482(5):813-822. Epub 2023 Apr 5 doi: 10.1007/s00428-023-03536-3. PMID: 37016248
Differences in Thymus and Activation-Regulated Chemokine and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen 2 Levels in Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome and Atopic Dermatitis.
Makita E, Sugawara D, Kuroda S, Itabashi K, Hirakubo Y, Nonaka K, Ichihashi K
Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2022;183(9):967-974. Epub 2022 May 10 doi: 10.1159/000524683. PMID: 35537383
Serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA)-2 correlates with clinical severity of pediatric atopic dermatitis in Ishigaki cohort.
Takeuchi S, Furusyo N, Ono J, Azuma Y, Takemura M, Esaki H, Yamamura K, Mitamura Y, Tsuji G, Kiyomatsu-Oda M, Hayashi J, Izuhara K, Furue M
J Dermatol Sci 2019 Aug;95(2):70-75. Epub 2019 Jul 24 doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2019.07.005. PMID: 31378660
Poorly Differentiated Nonkeratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thymus: Clinicopathologic and Molecular Genetic Study of 25 Cases.
Suster D, Pihan G, Mackinnon AC, Suster S
Am J Surg Pathol 2018 Sep;42(9):1224-1236. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000001101. PMID: 29975245

Recent systematic reviews

Carcinoma showing thymic-like elements--a rare malignancy of the thyroid gland.
Roka S, Kornek G, Schüller J, Ortmann E, Feichtinger J, Armbruster C
Br J Surg 2004 Feb;91(2):142-5. doi: 10.1002/bjs.4510. PMID: 14760659

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