Thymus radiation is linked to worse outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Until recently, the thymus was thought to be of little use beyond puberty, but new research has shown that radiation to the organ is associated with worse outcomes in patients being treated for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Recent research reveals that radiation to the thymus, an immune organ located in the upper chest, is associated with worse outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A study published in the Annals of Oncology analyzed 1,107 patients with NSCLC and found that those whose thymus received radiation during cancer treatment had an increased risk of metastasis and dying from their disease.
This association was observed only in patients whose thymus was still relatively healthy before treatment. Professor Hugo Aerts, the senior author of the paper, explained that the thymus, once thought to be irrelevant in adulthood, is now recognized as an important immune organ that produces and trains T cells. Using artificial intelligence, the researchers analyzed routine CT scans to estimate the health of the thymus and found that higher thymic health scores were associated with better outcomes after immunotherapy.
The study suggests that protecting the thymus during cancer treatment could improve patient outcomes without compromising cancer control, as existing radiotherapy planning techniques could reduce radiation exposure to the thymus.
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