DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for thymoma type A — screening already-approved drugs against its 3-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleThymoma type A maps to a 3-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
No approved-drug candidate for thymoma type a is corroborated in the literature DeepSearch retrieved. Some conditions are managed with non-pharmacological care — a device, surgery or physical therapy — rather than a medicine; that may be the case here, or the literature we found may simply be too sparse yet to support a drug-repurposing angle.
Molecular view
HRas proto-oncogene, GTPase (HRAS) — HRAS is one of the genes genetically linked to this disease in Open Targets — shown as context, not as a drug target we're pursuing: no approved-drug candidate for this disease is yet corroborated in the literature we found.
Loading structure…
helix sheet gnpdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 8ELT · 1.66 Å · ligand PHOSPHOAMINOPHOSPHONIC ACID-GUANYLATE ESTER (GNP). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
In a 1998 prospective cohort of 13 patients with unresectable malignant thymoma, induction chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, cisplatin, and prednisone produced complete response in 3 (25%), partial response in 8 (67%), and minor response in 1 (8%). Of 11 patients who then had surgery, complete resection was achieved in 9 (82%). After postoperative radiation and consolidation chemotherapy, all 12 evaluable patients were alive at a median follow-up of 43 months, with 10 disease-free (73% disease-free survival at 7 years). A 2018 retrospective study of 29 patients with locally advanced thymoma (Masaoka stage III–IVb) treated with preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy reported partial response in 11 and stable disease in 18; complete resection was achieved in 24 (83%). Five- and 10-year overall survival were 100% and 87%, but 5- and 10-year disease-free survival were only 50% and 50%, indicating that half of patients relapsed within five years despite aggressive multimodality treatment.
A 1976 review noted that chemotherapy for invasive thymoma had produced only short-term remissions and called for cooperative studies. A 2020 review of recurrent thymoma stated that recurrence after complete resection occurs in 10% to 30% of patients and that no agreement exists on treatment strategy. A 2014 study of 73 patients who underwent surgery for recurrent thymoma reported 5- and 10-year overall survival from recurrence of 73% and 45%. Complete macroscopic resection was achieved in 50 patients (68.5%) and was an independent predictor of better prognosis, as was single versus multiple recurrence (5-year survival 91% vs 55%). No operative mortality was observed.
The evidence for thymoma treatment is limited to small, single-institution series spanning decades, with no randomised trials. The 1998 and 2018 studies report high overall survival but also substantial relapse rates, and the 2014 recurrence surgery data show that even after reoperation many patients die within ten years. What is missing is prospective, multi-centre trials large enough to test specific drug regimens or sequences, and systematic stratification by histological subtype and Masaoka stage. No targeted therapy or immunotherapy has been validated in a controlled setting for thymoma.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Annals of Internal Medicine · 1998 · 148 citations
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Therapy for Unresectable Malignant Thymoma
AbstractBACKGROUND: The therapeutic outcome for unresectable, locally advanced, malignant thymoma has been poor. OBJECTIVE: To improve tumor resectability and patient survival rates by studying a multimodal approach to therapy for unresectable malignant thymoma. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care cancer center. PARTICIPANTS: All eligible patients had newly diagnosed, histologically proven, unresectable malignant thymoma. INTERVENTION: The treatment regimen consisted of induction chemotherapy (three courses of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, cisplatin, and prednisone), surgical resection, postoperative radiation therapy, and consolidation chemotherapy (three courses of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, cisplatin, and prednisone). Tissue samples were taken at the time of surgical resection for assessment of tumor necrosis and Ki-67 expression. MEASUREMENTS: Tumor response and resectability (both overall and after induction chemotherapy) and disease-free survival rate in patients who received multimodal therapy. RESULTS: 13 patients were consecutively enrolled from February 1990 to December 1996, and 12 evaluable patients were assessed for response. Disease responded to induction chemotherapy completely in 3 patients (25%) and partially in 8 patients (67%); 1 patient had a minor response (8%). Eleven patients had surgical resection; 1 refused surgery. Tumors were removed completely in 9 (82%) and incompletely in 2 (18%) of 11 patients who had been receiving radiation therapy and consolidation chemotherapy. All 12 patients are alive (100% at 7 years), with a median follow-up of 43 months, and 10 patients are disease free (73% disease-free survival at 7 years). A high correlation was seen between tumor necrosis after induction chemotherapy and Ki-67 expression (r=-0.88). CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive multimodal treatment is highly effective and may cure locally advanced, unresectable malignant thymoma.
AbstractDespite conventional therapy, including surgery and radiation, 5-year survival for invasive thymoma remains poor. Chemotherapeutic agents, including cisdiamminedichloroplatinum, prednisone, adriamycin and nitrogen mustard-vincristine-vinblastine-procarbazine, and bleomycin-adriamycin-CCNU-vincristine have produced short-term remissions. In view of the small number of cases seen in any one institution, a cooperative study to evaluate chemotherapeutic efficacy in malignant thymoma would seem worthwhile.
AbstractThymoma is a rare neoplasm usually with an indolent growth pattern; however, local invasion and/or dissemination may occur. Surgery has been the standard of care for early stage disease with good to excellent cure rates anticipated. This neoplasm has been found to be relatively sensitive to cisplatinum-based chemotherapy as compared with most other epithelial tumors. Aggressive multimodality therapy therefore can result in long-term disease-free survival for patients presenting with locally advanced or even disseminated disease. This chapter outlines the current medical and surgical treatment options for thymoma.
Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery · 2018 · 26 citations · open access
Long-term outcomes of advanced thymoma in patients undergoing preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery: a 20-year experience
AbstractOBJECTIVES: The results of preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery for locally advanced thymoma were analysed. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2016, 29 patients with a thymoma underwent preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. These cases were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The study population included 9 men and 20 women, with a mean age of 48.8 years (range 31-68 years). The preoperative Masaoka stage was III in 12, IVa in 13 and IVb in 4 patients, whereas histological type was B3 in 11, B2 in 9 and others in 5 patients. The mean tumour size was 8.0 ± 2.5 cm (3.4-15.0 cm). The site of infiltration shown in preoperative radiological examinations was the aorta in 6 patients, the superior vena cava in 14 patients and the pulmonary artery trunk in 3 patients, with pleural dissemination detected in 14. Three patients underwent chemoradiotherapy. Chemotherapy regimens given were cisplatin + doxorubicin + vincristine + cyclophosphamide in 9 patients, carboplatin + paclitaxel in 6 patients, cisplatin + doxorubicin + methylprednisolone in 5 patients and others in 9 patients, with partial response obtained in 11 patients and stable disease noted in 18 patients. Complete resection was achieved in 24 (83%) cases. There were no perioperative mortalities, whereas 6 (21%) patients developed postoperative complications. The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 100% and 87%, respectively, and 5- and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 50% and 50%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery for locally advanced thymoma can be performed with an acceptable degree of surgical risk. Such a strategy should be proactively considered, as it can lead to favourable long-term results.
Reports of Practical Oncology & Radiotherapy · 2020 · 5 citations · open access
Octreotide in the treatment of malignant thymoma – Case report
AbstractThymomas are the most common mediastinal tumors. Systemic therapy for patients with unresectable or recurrent thymomas is a challenging field in the current oncology research. There is some evidence that somatostatin analogs combined with corticosteroids may have a role in the treatment of advanced malignant thymoma; however, the role of these agents have not been fully evaluated. CASE REPORT: A 39-year-old man with metastatic thymoma was administered long-acting depot injection form of octreotide. Octreotide scan before the treatment initiation revealed low uptake. CT control after three months of the treatment revealed marked regression of pleural metastases, while the primary tumor mass remained stable. The treatment response was lasting for 9 months. CONCLUSION: We describe an interesting case of marked clinical and radiological response of advanced malignant thymoma to the treatment with octreotide in a heavily pre-treated patient, even though octreotide scan revealed low uptake.
AbstractThymoma is a potential malignant disease with a recurrence rate of 10% to 30% after complete resection. There is no agreement on the treatment strategy and standard for recurrent thymoma. The treatment methods include reoperation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. In this article, we review the previous literature and summarize the indications, efficacy and prognosis of different treatments for recurrent thymoma, so as to provide some reference for treatment criteria for recurrent thymoma.
Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery · 2014 · 0 citations · open access
083 * SURGICAL TREATMENT OF RECURRENT THYMOMA: IS IT WORTHWHILE?
AbstractObjectives: Despite a complete resection of thymoma, 10–30% of patients develop a recurrence. No clear data are available yet regarding indication for surgery and long-term prognosis of this subset of patients. The aim of our work is to review data of a group of recurrent thymomas treated by surgery, analysing outcome and prognostic factors. Methods: Between 1980 and 2010, 880 patients with thymoma underwent complete resection and were followed up. Masaoka stage IVa and type C thymic tumours were excluded. Eighty-two (9.3%) patients developed a recurrence, and 52 (63.4%) were reoperated. Twenty-one other patients originally operated outside, underwent surgical resection of recurrence. Finally, 73 patients were evaluated after surgery for recurrent thymoma and represent the subject of the study. Results: Median time to relapse was 52 months. Forty-four (60.3%) recurrences were pleural, 14 (19.2%) mediastinal, 4 (5.5%) pulmonary, 4 (5.5%) pleuro-pulmonary, 3 (4.1%) mediastinal and pleuro-pulmonary, 2 (2.7%) hepatic, 2 (2.7%) pleural and abdominal. No operative mortality was observed. In 50 (68.5%) patients a macroscopic complete resection was accomplished. Five- and 10-year overall survival from recurrence was 73% and 45%, respectively. A significant difference in survival was observed between single and multiple relapses (5-year survival 91% vs 55%; P = 0.003) and for complete versus incomplete resection (5-year survival 80% vs 59%; P = 0.002). Recurrence in patients with original Masaoka stage III was associated with a poorer prognosis compared with stage I–II (5-year survival 68% vs 78%; P = 0.03). At multivariate analysis complete resection (P = 0.04) and single metastasis (P = 0.03) were independent predictors of better prognosis. Conclusion: Reoperation for recurrent thymoma is effective in achieving a prolonged survival. Complete macroscopic resection and single recurrence are associated with better prognosis.
Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases · 2012 · 0 citations · open access
Unexpected Dramatic Response of Pretreated Invasive Thymic Malignancies on Pemetrexed-Case Report and Review of Current Treatment Modalities
AbstractThymomas are rare and usually slowly growing tumors, originating from the epithelial layer of the thymus. Prognosis depends on the extent of invasion of adjacent tissues whereby multimodality treatment including surgery with or without adjuvant chemoradiotherapy is the preferred approach for locally advanced thymomas. For metastatic thymomas, only few chemotherapeutic options are available. We report 2 cases of patients with metastatic thymic malignancies with a dramatic response on pemetrexed treatment. The choice for this antifolate therapy is based upon a small series. Because metastatic thymic neoplasm is a rare disease, large randomised trials are not feasible. Case reports on the treatment of these malignancies are very important and can provide readers with the opportunity to deal with rare dis- eases.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
