Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
07:01

An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma

Published on: April 17, 2013

In search of a real "targeted" therapy for thyroid cancer

Marcia S Brose1

  • 1Departments of Medicine and Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19010, USA. brosem@mail.med.upenn.edu

Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
|March 28, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Selumetinib targets the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in advanced radioactive iodine-refractory thyroid cancer. This targeted therapy showed limited effectiveness in patients with BRAF V600E mutations.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Radioactive iodine-refractory thyroid cancer is a progressive disease.
  • Multikinase inhibitors targeting angiogenesis have shown promise.
  • The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is implicated in cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of selumetinib, a MAPK pathway inhibitor.
  • To assess selumetinib's activity in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
  • To investigate the role of BRAF V600E mutations in treatment response.

Main Methods:

  • Selumetinib was administered as a single agent.
  • The study population included patients with progressive radioactive iodine-refractory thyroid cancer.
  • Tumor genetic analysis identified BRAF V600E mutations.

Main Results:

  • Selumetinib demonstrated limited single-agent activity.
  • Patients with tumors harboring the BRAF V600E mutation showed a restricted response.
  • The drug targets the MAPK pathway, not directly the tumor cell.

Conclusions:

  • Selumetinib has limited efficacy as a single agent in this patient population.
  • BRAF V600E mutation status may influence treatment outcomes.
  • Further research into targeted therapies for refractory thyroid cancer is warranted.

More Related Videos

Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer05:39

Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Published on: February 3, 2023

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...
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...
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.
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase01:11

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...
Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Site-Targeted01:24

Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Site-Targeted

Site-targeted drug delivery systems enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity and treatment costs. Unlike conventional methods, these systems ensure precise drug delivery, improving bioavailability and reducing side effects. Targeted drug delivery is classified into three levels. First-order targeting directs drugs to the capillary beds of specific organs or tissues. Second-order targets specific cell types, such as tumor cells, using receptor-mediated interactions.