The combination of etoposide and platinum for the treatment of thymic neuroendocrine neoplasms: A retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND: To provide real‐world outcomes for the combination of etoposide and platinum as a first‐line treatment for advanced thymic neuroendocrine neoplasms (TNENs). METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on patients with advanced TNENs confirmed by pathology who received etoposide combined with platinum as a first‐line chemotherapy in our institution between 2010 and 2022. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients were included in this study. Twelve patients (75%) received etoposide combined with cisplatin, and four patients (25%) received etoposide combined with carboplatin. Efficacy was evaluated in all patients, with an objective response rate of 31.3%. One patient achieved a complete response, four achieved a partial response, and in eight patients the disease remained stable; the disease control rate was 81.3%. The median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 7.2 months with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 2.1–12.3 months. The median overall survival (OS) was 50.4 months with a 95% CI of 32.1–68.8 months. No significant difference in efficacy was observed between the treatment groups with regards to PFS (p = 0.095) and OS (p = 0.061). Treatment‐related adverse events were observed in all 12 patients when evaluated for toxicity, manifesting as hematologic toxicity. Grade 3–4 bone marrow suppression occurred in six patients (50%). No treatment‐related deaths were recorded. CONCLUSION: This retrospective analysis, conducted in a real‐life setting, suggests that the combination of etoposide and platinum has a promising anti‐tumor activity in advanced TNENs, with a clinically significant overall response rate.