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Updated: Jun 15, 2026
07:02
In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice
Published on: August 23, 2019
Sunitinib induces hypothyroidism with a markedly reduced vascularity
Noriko Makita1, Megumi Miyakawa, Toshiro Fujita
1Department of Endocrinology and Nephrology, The University of Tokyo School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. norimaki-tky@umin.ac.jp
Summary
Sunitinib treatment can cause hypothyroidism by reducing thyroid blood flow and vascularity. Thyroid function and volume appear to depend on vascularity, which sunitinib negatively regulates.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Sunitinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor with antiangiogenic and antitumor properties.
- Sunitinib is frequently associated with hypothyroidism, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.
Observation:
- A patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma developed hypothyroidism after sunitinib administration.
- Ultrasonography revealed thyroid atrophy and reduced vascularity with elevated thyrotropin levels during sunitinib treatment.
- Thyroid volume and vascularity recovered during sunitinib off-periods, despite low thyrotropin levels.
Findings:
- Sunitinib induces hypothyroidism by decreasing thyroid vascularity through capillary regression and constriction.
- Thyroid function and volume are directly related to thyroid blood flow and vascularity.
Implications:
- This study elucidates a mechanism for sunitinib-induced hypothyroidism.
- Understanding this mechanism may inform strategies to manage endocrine side effects of targeted cancer therapies.
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