The double-edged sword of immune checkpoint inhibition in advanced staged thymic epithelial tumours

Evidence for optimal treatment of thymic epithelial tumours (TET) in advanced stages is limited due to the overall rarity of these tumours. To date, the standard treatment for inoperable and advanced diseases is still chemotherapy. However, with the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), new opportunities for the treatment of advanced staged thymomas and thymic carcinomas (TC) became available. ICIs have been proven to show good antitumour activity, at the same time displaying a critical immune-mediated toxicity profile. Here, we discuss the current role of ICI therapy using the example of a patient with a type B2/3 thymoma and point out the double-sided effect of ICI treatment in thymomas or thymic carcinomas. …