Advanced thymic lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma with bone marrow metastases treated by immunotherapy combined with antiangiogenesis therapy: a case report

Abstract

Thymic lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) is a rare primary malignant neoplasm originating from the thymus. Thymic LELC diagnosis is often terminal when diagnosed, some patients have lost the opportunity for surgery. Platinum- and anthracycline-based systemic chemotherapy are the first-line treatment plan; however, there is no clear consensus on therapy when first-line treatment fails because of the lack of cases of advanced thymic LELC. Here was a rare case of advanced thymic LELC with bone marrow metastasis at relapse, which is reported in a patient who responded well to toripalimab combined with anlotinib therapy. The treatment showed tolerable toxicity with good antitumor activity in the patient. As far as we know, this is the first case that the combination of toripalimab with anlotinib is effective in controlling advanced thymic LELC with bone marrow metastasis. The case reports represent an essential means by which an effective therapy for advanced thymic LELC may not be practical given the low frequency of a thymic LELC with multiple metastases.