Active thymus in adult with lung cancer: preliminary results from the Adult Thymic Project

• DOI: 10.1007/s13304-024-01953-w
• Publication Date: 2024-08-23T06:55:32Z
• Authors: Simona Sobrero; Enrico Patrucco; Francesca Napoli; Roberta Ragazzini; Rachele Milazzo; Federico Vaisitti; Chiara Ambrogio; Paola Bonfanti; Ottavio Rena; Enrico Ruffini; Luisella Righi; Francesco Leo
• Keywords: Thymic involution

Thymus is considered a non-functional remnant in adults, but some evidence suggest that it may harbor residual activity. Lung cancer patients represent the ideal model to study thymic activity, as their thymus can be easily harvested during surgery. This was designed confirm presence of activity both adult mice (step 1) and humans 2). In step 1, lung induced by activating k-ras mutation cohort 20 young mice. After killing, lungs were analyzed. active when medullary evident, cortico-medullary ratio 50:50 or higher adipose involution present. 2, patients, undergoing surgery for cancer, had biopsy pericardial fat pad, site ectopic thymus. present if Hassall's bodies detected. mice, detected high proportion cases, without significant difference between (70% vs 44.4% respectively). Two cases tumor fully functional humans, pad 2 (10.5%), confirmed immunohistochemistry. Signs previous 8 additional patients. Results animal models with providing rationale future systematic mediastinal biopsy. The comprehension interactions thymus, lymphocytes open new potentially targetable perspective cancer.