Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Oct 2:14:1264325.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1264325. eCollection 2023.

Unraveling molecular networks in thymic epithelial tumors: deciphering the unique signatures

Xiao Zhang  1   2 , Pengpeng Zhang  3 , Ansheng Cong  4 , Yanlong Feng  2 , Hao Chi  5 , Zhijia Xia  6 , Hailin Tang  1
Affiliations
Review

Unraveling molecular networks in thymic epithelial tumors: deciphering the unique signatures

Xiao Zhang et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are a rare and diverse group of neoplasms characterized by distinct molecular signatures. This review delves into the complex molecular networks of TETs, highlighting key aspects such as chromosomal abnormalities, molecular subtypes, aberrant gene mutations and expressions, structural gene rearrangements, and epigenetic changes. Additionally, the influence of the dynamic tumor microenvironment on TET behavior and therapeutic responses is examined. A thorough understanding of these facets elucidates TET pathogenesis, offering avenues for enhancing diagnostic accuracy, refining prognostic assessments, and tailoring targeted therapeutic strategies. Our review underscores the importance of deciphering TETs' unique molecular signatures to advance personalized treatment paradigms and improve patient outcomes. We also discuss future research directions and anticipated challenges in this intriguing field.

Keywords: cellular signaling network; genomic; molecular; thymic carcinoma; thymic epithelial tumors; thymoma.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Main molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of thymic epithelial tumors.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The three mechanisms of epigenetic modifications: DNA methylation, post-translational modification of histone tails, and dysregulated expression of non-coding RNAs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Rich AL. Epidemiology of thymoma. J Thorac Dis (2020) 12(12):7531–5. doi: 10.21037/jtd-2019-thym-02 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. de Jong WK, Blaauwgeers JLG, Schaapveld M, Timens W, Klinkenberg TJ, Groen HJM. Thymic epithelial tumours: A population-based study of the incidence, diagnostic procedures and therapy. Eur J Cancer (2008) 44(1):123–30. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2007.11.004 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Marx A, Ströbel P, Badve SS, Chalabreysse L, Chan JKC, Chen G, et al. . Itmig consensus statement on the use of the who histological classification of thymoma and thymic carcinoma: Refined definitions, histological criteria, and reporting. J Thorac Oncol (2014) 9(5):596–611. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0000000000000154 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Weis C-A, Yao X, Deng Y, Detterbeck FC, Marino M, Nicholson AG, et al. . The impact of thymoma histotype on prognosis in a worldwide database. J Thorac Oncol (2015) 10(2):367–72. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0000000000000393 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Roden AC, Yi ES, Cassivi SD, Jenkins SM, Garces YI, Aubry MC. Clinicopathological features of thymic carcinomas and the impact of histopathological agreement on prognostical studies. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg (2013) 43(6):1131–9. doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezs529 - DOI - PubMed

MeSH terms

Supplementary concepts