Medullary thyroid carcinoma: targeted therapies and future directions

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
05:39

Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Published on: February 3, 2023

Scott N Pinchot1, Muthusamy Kunnimalaiyaan, Rebecca S Sippel

  • 1Endocrine Surgery Research Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin, H4/722 Clinical Science Center, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792, USA.

Journal of Oncology
|January 14, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare malignancy with frequent metastases. Novel targeted therapies are needed due to the ineffectiveness of conventional treatments for this neuroendocrine neoplasm.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine neoplasm, comprising about 5% of thyroid cancers.
  • MTC is known for early lymph node and distant metastases, often precluding complete surgical resection.
  • Conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiation are largely ineffective for MTC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review critical pathways in MTC tumorigenesis.
  • To identify pathways targeted by emerging drug therapies.
  • To highlight potential novel therapeutic strategies for advanced MTC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of MTC pathogenesis.
  • Analysis of molecular pathways implicated in MTC.
  • Survey of ongoing targeted drug development for MTC.

Main Results:

  • Several key molecular pathways are vital for MTC development.
  • Targeted drug therapies are under development for these pathways.
  • These novel therapies hold promise for symptom control and reducing tumor burden.

Conclusions:

  • There is a significant unmet need for effective MTC treatments.
  • Targeted therapies focusing on MTC-specific pathways represent a promising therapeutic avenue.
  • Further research and development of these targeted agents are crucial for improving patient outcomes.

More Related Videos

An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma07:01

An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma

Published on: April 17, 2013

Establishment and Characterization of Patient-Derived Xenograft Models of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma06:08

Establishment and Characterization of Patient-Derived Xenograft Models of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: June 2, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...