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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Establishment and Characterization of Patient-Derived Xenograft Models of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: June 2, 2023
Advances in chemotherapy of differentiated epithelial and medullary thyroid cancers
1Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77230-1402, USA. sisherma@mdanderson.org
Context:
Systemic chemotherapies for advanced or metastatic thyroid carcinomas have been of only limited effectiveness. For patients with differentiated or medullary carcinomas unresponsive to conventional treatments, novel therapies are needed to improve disease outcomes.
Evidence Acquisition:
The PubMed and Google Scholar search engines were used to identify publications and peer-reviewed meeting presentations addressing chemotherapy and targeted therapy for differentiated or medullary carcinoma.
Evidence Synthesis:
Multiple novel therapies primarily targeting angiogenesis have entered clinical trials for metastatic thyroid carcinoma. Partial response rates up to 30% have been reported in single agent studies, but prolonged disease stabilization is more commonly seen. The most successful agents target the vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, with potential targets including the mutant kinases associated with papillary and medullary oncogenesis. Two drugs approved for other malignancies, sorafenib and sunitinib, have had promising preliminary results reported, and are being used selectively for patients who do not qualify for clinical trials. Randomized trials for several agents are underway that may lead to eventual drug approval for thyroid cancer.
Conclusion:
Treatment for patients with metastatic or advanced thyroid carcinoma now emphasizes clinical trial opportunities for novel agents with considerable promise. Alternative options now exist for use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors that are well tolerated and may prove worthy of regulatory approval for this disease.
Insights
Novel targeted therapies, particularly those inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, show promise for advanced thyroid cancer. These treatments offer new options for patients unresponsive to traditional chemotherapy, with ongoing trials for potential drug approval.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Systemic chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic thyroid carcinomas demonstrates limited effectiveness.
- Patients with differentiated or medullary carcinomas resistant to conventional treatments require novel therapeutic strategies.
- Improved disease outcomes necessitate the development of new treatment modalities for refractory thyroid cancer.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current and emerging therapies for advanced or metastatic differentiated and medullary thyroid carcinomas.
- To identify novel agents targeting angiogenesis and specific molecular pathways in thyroid cancer.
- To assess the efficacy and tolerability of targeted therapies in clinical trials.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases.
- Inclusion of peer-reviewed publications and meeting presentations on chemotherapy and targeted therapy.
- Focus on studies addressing differentiated and medullary thyroid carcinoma.
Main Results:
- Multiple novel therapies, primarily targeting angiogenesis, are in clinical trials for metastatic thyroid carcinoma.
- Partial response rates up to 30% observed in single-agent studies; prolonged disease stabilization is more common.
- Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors show success, targeting mutant kinases in papillary and medullary thyroid oncogenesis.
- Sorafenib and sunitinib exhibit promising preliminary results and are used selectively.
- Randomized trials are ongoing for several agents, potentially leading to future drug approvals.
Conclusions:
- Clinical trial enrollment for novel agents is now a primary treatment strategy for metastatic or advanced thyroid carcinoma.
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitors represent viable alternative treatment options.
- These targeted therapies are generally well-tolerated and may gain regulatory approval for thyroid cancer treatment.
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