Current Advances in Thyroid Cancer Management. Are We Ready for the Epidemic Rise of Diagnoses?

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Visualization in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer
03:55

Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Visualization in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer

Published on: June 9, 2023

1.1K

Dagmara Rusinek1, Ewa Chmielik2, Jolanta Krajewska3

  • 1Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Institute-Cancer Center, Gliwice Branch, Wybrzeze Armii Krajowej 15, 44-101 Gliwice, Poland. Dagmara.Rusinek@io.gliwice.pl.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|August 23, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Rising thyroid cancer (TC) incidence necessitates updated strategies. This review covers diagnostic advances, surgical controversies, and novel treatments for differentiated, medullary, and anaplastic thyroid cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Endocrinology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Increasing incidence of thyroid cancers (TCs), particularly small tumors, has created treatment strategy controversies.
  • While most TCs have a good prognosis, aggressive forms resist standard treatments, necessitating refined management.
  • Accurate diagnosis and tailored therapies are crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current advancements in preoperative molecular diagnostics and histopathological examination, including noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP).
  • To discuss controversies in surgical extent and adjuvant radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).
  • To explore new treatment modalities for radioiodine-refractory DTC (RR-DTC), medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC).

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on thyroid cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
  • Analysis of histopathological features and molecular markers for improved preoperative diagnosis.
  • Discussion of clinical management guidelines based on genotype and prognostic markers for MTC.
  • Evaluation of emerging treatments for advanced and refractory thyroid cancer types.

Main Results:

  • Preoperative molecular diagnostics and refined histopathology, including NIFTP identification, improve diagnostic accuracy.
  • Controversies persist regarding optimal surgical extent and the role of adjuvant radioiodine therapy in DTC.
  • New targeted therapies show promise for radioiodine-refractory DTC (RR-DTC) and advanced medullary thyroid cancer (MTC).
  • Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) remains a highly lethal entity with limited effective treatment options.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate preoperative diagnosis and risk stratification are essential for personalized thyroid cancer management.
  • Addressing controversies in DTC treatment and advancing therapies for refractory and aggressive subtypes are critical research areas.
  • Genotype-guided management and novel targeted therapies offer new hope for patients with advanced MTC and other challenging thyroid cancers.
Keywords:
RAI (radioiodine) ablationanaplastic thyroid cancerdifferentiated thyroid cancermedullary thyroid cancermolecular diagnosticsmulti kinase inhibitorsthyroid surgery

More Related Videos

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

2.4K
Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer05:39

Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

Published on: February 3, 2023

2.3K

Related Concept Videos

The Thyroid Gland01:23

The Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck and covers the anterior surface of the trachea. The gland has two lateral lobes connected by a thin tissue mass called the isthmus. Internally, each lobe comprises many small spherical structures known as thyroid follicles, surrounded by a network of blood vessels.
The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...
8.0K
Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones01:20

Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones

Low blood levels of the thyroid hormones — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — signal the hypothalamus to release the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH then reaches the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) into the bloodstream.
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The...
8.3K
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...
9.0K
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.
2.1K
Cancer Survival Analysis01:21

Cancer Survival Analysis

Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
793
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
7.5K