Molecular pathology of thymoma and thymic carcinoma

Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) comprise a heterogeneous group of epithelial-derived thymic neoplasms with diverse clinical behavior and underlying molecular genetic features. Owing to their rare nature, the classification TETs has only recently begun be fully explored. The advent advanced studies, particularly ability sequence DNA RNA in massively parallel fashion, led an increased understanding underpinnings neoplasia. Thymomas, characterized by alterations, tend have low mutational burdens various copy number abnormalities including characteristic loss chromosomal material region 6q25.2-p25.3, recurrent, specific point mutation GTF2I p.L424H, expression certain microRNAs. carcinomas, contrast, are generally tumor burdens, multiple varied, non-recurrent, somatic mutations. Advances knowledge allow for more precise these tumors, presence alterations aids diagnosis borderline lesions. In future, additional studies will better delineate landscape may one day targeted treatment algorithms. This review aims cover current thus far identified thymomas carcinomas.