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Multikinase inhibitors in thyroid cancer

Lisa Licitra1, Laura D Locati, Angela Greco

  • 1Head and Neck Cancer Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS 'Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori', Via Venezian 1, Milan, Italy. lisa.licitra@istitutotumori.mi.it

European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|February 23, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Targeted therapies like BRAF inhibitors show promise for radioactive iodine-resistant thyroid cancer, offering better responses and fewer side effects than chemotherapy, though survival benefits are not yet proven.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Metastatic radioactive iodine (RAI)-resistant thyroid cancer presents a significant therapeutic challenge.
  • Limited effective treatment options exist for advanced thyroid cancer, necessitating novel approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the emerging biological agents for treating metastatic RAI-resistant thyroid cancer.
  • To evaluate the efficacy and safety of targeted therapies, particularly those inhibiting BRAF and VEGFR.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent clinical studies and preclinical data on targeted agents.
  • Analysis of treatment responses based on specific genetic mutations, such as BRAF V600E.
  • Comparison of efficacy and toxicity profiles with traditional chemotherapy.

Main Results:

  • Agents targeting BRAF and VEGFR demonstrate promising results in RAI-resistant thyroid cancer.
  • The BRAF V600E mutation is associated with a positive tumor response to BRAF-targeting agents.
  • Impressive clinical responses and prolonged disease stabilization were observed, with favorable toxicity compared to chemotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted therapies, especially BRAF inhibitors, represent a promising new avenue for metastatic RAI-resistant thyroid cancer.
  • While offering improved response rates and tolerability, these agents have not yet demonstrated a survival benefit.
  • Further research is needed to establish their role in prolonging patient survival and gain regulatory approval.

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