Cisplatin based chemotherapy in patients with advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma refractory to I131 treatment

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of cisplatin based chemotherapy in patients with advanced differentiated thyroid cancer refractory to radioactive iodine (I131).

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 20 patients with advanced thyroid cancer treated with cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2) on day 1, doxorubicin 50 mg/m(2) day 1 and cisplatin 50 mg/m(2) day 1 of a 21 days cycle community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) or the same regimens without cyclophosphamide adriamycin and Platinum (AP).

Median age of patients was 65 years (range 54-80). The majority of patients had lung metastases (60%). 4 (20%) patients achieved a partial response. Stable disease was achieved in 6 (30%) patients. Overall clinical response was 50%. Mean follow-up time was 8 months (range 4-17). Mean progression free survival was 6 months (range 3-12). Mean overall survival was 9 months (range 4-17). Patients with partial remission had a mean time to disease progression of 9 months. 4 (20%) patients had Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. One patient had febrile neutropenia. Mild neuropathy was recorded in 5 (25%) of patients. There were no treatment related deaths.

The combination of CAP is active in the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer with tolerable toxicity. This regimen may still be used in patients who could not be treated with targeted therapy or combined with antiangiogenic drugs in future studies.