Bevacizumab in combination with paclitaxel and platinum for previously treated advanced thymic epithelial tumors

There are no optimal regimens for advanced thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) when frontline chemotherapy fails. In this study, we aimed to assess the activity of Bevacizumab in combination with a routine chemotherapeutic regimen. Patients with advanced TETs who had failed after previous chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. Paclitaxel (160 mg/m2) and cisplatin (70 mg/m2) or carboplatin (area under the curve, 6) plus Bevacizumab (7.5 mg/kg) were intravenously injected on day 1.The treatment was repeated every 3 weeks until the disease progressed or intolerable toxicities occurred. Between March 2018 and August 2020, a total of 49 patients (21 thymoma and 28 thymic carcinoma) received the new treatment. There were 28 men and 21 women with a median age of 50 years (range: 21-73 years). The median number of cycles was 3 (range: 1-6) per patient. The objective response rate (ORR) for all patients was 43% (21/49). The ORRs for thymoma and thymic carcinoma were 24% and 57%, respectively. The median progression-free survival for thymoma and thymic carcinoma was 6 and 8 months, respectively. Hematological toxicities were the main side effects. Paclitaxel and platinum plus Bevacizumab showed promising effects in refractory or relapsed advanced TETs without severe toxicity. Even when applied as salvage therapy, this regimen resulted in a better ORR than frontline chemotherapy.