Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma

This randomized controlled trial compares 6 versus 3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with potentially resectable locally advanced thymic epithelial tumors (TETs, WHO type AB/B/C, AJCC TNM stage IIIA-IVA). Patients are randomized 1:1 to receive either 6 or 3 cycles of chemotherapy (cisplatin + doxorubicin + cyclophosphamide for type B; nab-paclitaxel + carboplatin for type C thymoma/thymic carcinoma) every 3 weeks, followed by surgical resection when feasible. The primary endpoint is event-free survival (EFS). The study aims to determine whether extended neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves surgical outcomes and long-term survival in this rare malignancy.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if hypofractionated radiotherapy works to shorten the treatment time without increasing the side effects in patients of thymic epithelial tumors. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does Hypofractionated radiotherapy provide better results? * Can hypofractionated radiotherapy reduce toxic and side effects compared with conventional radiotherapy? Researchers will compare the efficacy and safety of hypofractionated radiotherapy after thymic tumor surgery. Participants will: * Receive hypofractionated radiotherapy or conventional radiotherapy * Visit the hospital regularly once every 12 weeks for checkups and tests

Thymic epithelial tumors are rare neoplasms in the anterior mediastinum. The cornerstone of the treatment is surgical resection. Administration of postoperative radiotherapy is usually indicated in patients with more extensive local disease, incomplete resection and/or more aggressive subtypes, defined by the WHO histopathological classification. In this classification thymoma types A, AB, B1, B2, B3, and thymic carcinoma are distinguished. Studies have shown large discordances between pathologists in subtyping these tumors. Moreover, the WHO classification alone does not accurately predict the risk of recurrence, as within subtypes patients have divergent prognoses. The investigators will develop AI models using digital pathology and relevant clinical variables to improve the accuracy of histopathological classification of thymic epithelial tumors, and to better predict the risk of recurrence. In this multicentric and international project three existing databases will be used from Rotterdam, Maastricht and Lyon. For all models one database will be used to build AI models, and the other two for external validation. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop AI models that support the pathologist in correctly subtyping thymic epithelial tumors, in order to prevent patients from under- or overtreatment with adjuvant radiotherapy.