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Molecular targeted therapies for patients with refractory thyroid cancer

C Chougnet1, M Brassard, S Leboulleux

  • 1Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Centre de Référence Tumeurs Réfractaires de la Thyroïde, Institut Gustave Roussy and University Paris-Sud XI, Villejuif, France.

Clinical Oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain))
|June 18, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Molecular targeted therapies offer new treatment options for advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma resistant to radioiodine and for metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma. Kinase inhibitors are recommended for progressive disease, ideally within clinical trials.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Endocrinology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Radioiodine therapy is a standard treatment for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) but can be ineffective in patients with distant metastases.
  • Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is often metastatic at diagnosis and requires systemic treatment.
  • Emerging molecular targeted therapies necessitate a re-evaluation of treatment paradigms for advanced thyroid cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of molecular targeted therapies in managing advanced DTC and MTC.
  • To provide guidance on treatment strategies for radioiodine-refractory DTC with distant metastases.
  • To outline therapeutic approaches for metastatic MTC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent clinical trials and guidelines.
  • Analysis of data on molecular targeted therapies, including kinase inhibitors.
  • Synthesis of evidence for treatment recommendations.

Main Results:

  • Molecular targeted therapies, particularly kinase inhibitors, show promise in patients with progressive DTC and MTC.
  • These therapies offer an alternative for patients with DTC who are resistant to radioiodine.
  • Kinase inhibitors represent a viable treatment option for metastatic MTC.

Conclusions:

  • Treatment strategies for advanced thyroid cancer should incorporate molecular targeted therapies.
  • Kinase inhibitors should be considered for patients with progressive DTC and MTC.
  • Prospective trials are crucial for further evaluating the efficacy and safety of these novel agents.

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