Reconsidering role of 'Useless' organ: Potential cancer fighter? - Video

The thymus gland—which produces immune T cells before birth and during childhood— is often regarded as nonfunctional in adults, and it’s sometimes removed during cardiac surgery for easier access to the heart and major blood vessels. New research led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and published in the New England Journal of Medicine has uncovered evidence that the thymus is in fact critical for adult health generally and for preventing cancer and perhaps autoimmune disease.

To determine whether the thymus provides health benefits to adults, the team evaluated the risk of death, cancer, and autoimmune disease among 1,146 adults who had their thymus removed during surgery and among 1,146 demographically matched patients who underwent similar cardiothoracic surgery without thymectomy. The scientists also measured T cell production and blood levels of immune-related molecules in a subgroup of patients.

Reference: Kameron A. Kooshesh, M.D., Brody H. Foy, D.Phil., David B. Sykes, M.D., Ph.D., Karin Gustafsson, Ph.D., and David T. Scadden, M.D., Health Consequences of Thymus Removal in Adults, New England Journal of Medicine, DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2302892