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Targeted therapy for thyroid cancer: An updated review of investigational agents

Hari A Deshpande1, Scott N Gettinger, Julie A Sosa

  • 1Yale Cancer Center, 333 Cedar Street, FMP 124, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. hari.deshpande@yale.edu

Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs (London, England : 2000)
|May 25, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Targeted therapies are emerging for thyroid cancer, focusing on molecular pathways like VEGFR, BRAF, and RET. Drugs such as sorafenib, sunitinib, vandetanib, and XL-184 show promise in clinical trials for various thyroid cancer types.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Thyroid cancer treatment is advancing with a focus on molecular targets.
  • Understanding carcinogenesis mechanisms has identified key proteins for therapeutic intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the evolving landscape of thyroid cancer treatment.
  • To highlight molecular targets and investigational drugs for thyroid cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current research on molecular mechanisms in thyroid cancer.
  • Analysis of ongoing clinical trials for targeted therapies.

Main Results:

  • Identified VEGFR, BRAF, and RET as key targets for thyroid cancer treatment.
  • Sorafenib and sunitinib are under development for thyroid cancer.
  • Vandetanib and XL-184 show activity in medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) trials.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted therapies offer new avenues for thyroid cancer treatment.
  • Further clinical evaluation is crucial for drugs targeting specific molecular pathways in thyroid cancer.

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