Patients with thymoma, thymic carcinoma, and other tumors of the chest in the area between the lungs (known as the mediastinum) get the best care when surgeons, oncologists, and radiation oncologists collaborate in their treatment. At Memorial Sloan-Kettering we have a team of experts with a specific interest and expertise in diagnosing and treating these diseases. Our doctors, nurses, and other members of the healthcare team work closely together on each case and treat more than 50 new patients with thymic tumors each year.
Our researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering are investigating new combinations of chemotherapy with surgery to help patients with advanced cases and are testing novel agents such as cetuximab. They are also examining the genetic and molecular characteristics of thymomas and thymic carcinomas to better understand how these tumors develop and to create new targeted therapies to treat them.
Our doctors have also developed and maintain a thymoma database to follow the outcomes of our patients and are using this to enhance the quality of the care we provide. Using the information learned from our research, our doctors are designing clinical trials to develop better ways to treat patients with thymoma and thymic carcinoma.
