Where thymoma and thymic carcinoma treatment is heading
Thymoma and thymic carcinoma · Updated Nov 12, 2026
Tumors of the thymus are rare, roughly 1,000 to 1,500 a year in the US. Surgery cures most thymomas. Thymic carcinoma is more aggressive. Immunotherapy and targeted drugs are being added to chemotherapy, with extra care because these tumors often trigger autoimmune problems.
- 65studies open or running
- 4phase 3 trials
- 639papers published this year
- 2NIH-funded projects
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Now
Nov 2026
Immunotherapy with chemo shows promiseHappened 56% tumors shrank
Atezolizumab with chemotherapy shrank more than half of advanced thymic carcinomas in a Japanese trial.
56%: had their tumors shrink.
Long control with ramucirumabHappened 43.8 months median survival
Adding ramucirumab to chemotherapy gave a median survival near 44 months in metastatic thymic carcinoma.
43.8: months median survival.
An option after chemotherapyHappened 88.4% no growth at 5 months
Lenvatinib with pembrolizumab held back most previously treated cancers for at least 5 months.
88.4%: had no cancer growth at 5 months.
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6 months
by May 2027
Carbon ion radiation resultsPossible
Chinese trials test carbon ion radiation with chemotherapy for thymic tumors. One is due December 2026.
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12 months
by Nov 2027
Chemotherapy after surgery for thymic cancerPossible
A Fudan University trial of 172 people tests adding chemotherapy after surgery. Due May 2027.
Antibody-drug conjugates and ivonescimabPossible
Small US trials of sacituzumab govitecan and ivonescimab are due in 2027.
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3 years
by late 2029
Safer surgery with myasthenia gravisPossible
A trial compares efgartigimod with IV immunoglobulin around thymoma surgery for people with myasthenia gravis.
Targeted radiation for thymic carcinoidLong shot
A Spanish phase 3 trial compares lutetium radioligand therapy with everolimus for neuroendocrine tumors including thymic ones. Due 2029.
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5 years
by late 2031
A randomized trial of immunotherapyLong shot
Single-arm successes could lead to the first randomized trial of chemo-immunotherapy in thymic carcinoma.
How many chemotherapy cycles before surgeryLong shot
A Shanghai trial compares 6 with 3 cycles before surgery for advanced tumors. Due 2029.
The research paths
Immunotherapy, used carefully
56% tumors shrankDetails and 2 trialsHide
Immunotherapy works in thymic carcinoma but causes more serious immune side effects than in other cancers, especially in thymoma.
WatchWhether combinations stay safe.
Targeted and antibody-drug treatments
43.8 months median survivalDetails and 3 trialsHide
Blood-vessel blockers, antibody-drug conjugates and a new platinum-like drug (PT-112) are in small trials.
WatchSacituzumab govitecan results.
Surgery and radiation
Details and 3 trialsHide
Who needs radiation or chemotherapy after surgery, and newer particle radiation.
WatchFudan adjuvant chemotherapy trial.
Borrowed from other cancers
From Myasthenia gravis
Efgartigimod
Phase 3
An antibody-lowering drug approved for myasthenia gravis, given around thymoma surgery.
From Stomach and lung cancer
Ramucirumab
43.8 months median survival
Phase 2
A blood-vessel blocking antibody added to chemotherapy.
From Endometrial and kidney cancer
Lenvatinib and pembrolizumab
88.4% no growth at 5 months
Phase 2
A pairing approved elsewhere, tested after chemotherapy.
Open to join now
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Thymic carcinoma, China
Chemotherapy after surgery
Locations and eligibility → -
Neuroendocrine tumors, Spain
Lutetium therapy vs everolimus
Locations and eligibility → -
Thymic carcinoma, US
Ivonescimab
Locations and eligibility → -
Advanced thymic tumors, US
Sacituzumab govitecan
Locations and eligibility → -
Thymoma and thymic carcinoma, NIH
PT-112
Locations and eligibility →
See every recruiting thymoma trial →
When the trials finish
Completion dates the trials registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Heating up
- Maturing
- Early
- Cooling
- Fully enrolled, waiting on results
- Still enrolling
What just happened
Lenvatinib-pembrolizumab controls treated thymic cancers
PECATI: 88.4% without growth at 5 months.
Atezolizumab with chemo shrank 56% of tumors
Thymic carcinoma, Japan.
Standard treatment today
- Can be removedSurgery to remove the thymus and tumor; radiation afterwards for higher-stage or incompletely removed tumors.
- Locally advancedChemotherapy first to shrink it, then surgery and radiation.
- Spread or returnedCarboplatin and paclitaxel; sunitinib or lenvatinib later. Immunotherapy is used cautiously because of autoimmune risks.
- With myasthenia gravisTreat and stabilize myasthenia before surgery; a neurologist is part of care.
How to read this page, and sourcesHow to read this page, and sources
- Almost all treatment evidence comes from small single-arm trials.
- The yearly case estimate is approximate.
- Completion dates are what each trial registered. Results usually follow 3 to 12 months later.
- Forecasts are editorial judgments by Find a Trial, not predictions from sponsors or regulators.
See thymoma trials recruiting now →