Efficacy and safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with antiangiogenic therapy for thymic epithelial tumors (TETs): a retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with antiangiogenic therapy have shown promising antitumor activity against a range of advanced cancers. However, evidence is lacking as to whether this combination therapy could benefit thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). We aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of this combination therapy in advanced TETs. METHODS: Ten patients with pathologically proven advanced TETs who received ICIs combined with an antiangiogenic agent from 2020 to 2022 at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital were included in the study. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the treatment efficacy and survival outcomes. RESULTS: Of the cohort of ten patients who received immunotherapy combined with antiangiogenic targeting drugs, two patients achieved a partial response (PR) with an objective response rate of 20% and seven patients achieved stable disease (SD) with a disease control rate (DCR) of 90%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.7 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.35–8.515] and the median overall survival (OS) was 45.6 months (95% CI: 3.265–88.001). Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were only detected in one patient. No grade 4 or above TRAEs were observed. CONCLUSIONS: ICIs in combination with antiangiogenic targeted drugs may be a promising treatment for advanced TETs.