Study on Chemotherapy and Cetuximab Followed by Surgery for Advanced or Returning Thymoma or Thymic Carcinoma

Inclusion Criteria

• Must be over 18 years old.
• Have a Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score of 70 or higher, indicating the ability to care for oneself.
• Have a new or returning diagnosis of thymoma (types A, AB, B1, B2, or B3) or thymic carcinoma confirmed by specific medical centers.
• Have not received any prior chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery for thymoma, except for a diagnostic biopsy.
• Have not been treated with cetuximab before.
• Have a clinical Masaoka Stage II (tumor larger than 5 cm), III, or IVA, which may include invasion into nearby areas like the chest or lungs.
• Have normal bone marrow function, with specific blood cell counts.
• Have adequate kidney function, with creatinine levels within a certain range.
• Have adequate liver function, with specific levels of bilirubin and liver enzymes.
• Be willing to sign an informed consent form.
• Agree to use effective contraception.
• Be medically fit for surgery.

Exclusion Criteria

• Have evidence of cancer spread to distant parts of the body (Masaoka stage IVB).
• Have thymic carcinoid.
• Be receiving any other experimental treatments.
• Have had another cancer in the past 5 years, except for certain skin or cervical cancers.
• Be HIV-positive and on anti-retroviral therapy, due to potential interactions with study drugs.
• Be pregnant or breastfeeding.