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Updated: Jul 21, 2026
07:01
An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: April 17, 2013
Survival in Response to Multimodal Therapy in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Naiyarat Prasongsook1, Aditi Kumar2, Ashish V Chintakuntlawar1
1Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|October 14, 2017
Summary
Multimodal therapy (MMT) significantly improved survival for anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) patients with stage IVA/B disease. This intensive treatment approach offers new hope for patients with advanced ATC.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Thyroid Cancer Research
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) historically has poor patient outcomes.
- The effectiveness of intensive treatment strategies in improving ATC survival remains an area of investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate if an initial intensive multimodal therapy (MMT) is associated with improved survival in patients diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid cancer.
- To compare outcomes of MMT with palliative intent (PI) care in a contemporary cohort of ATC patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 48 patients with newly diagnosed ATC treated at Mayo Clinic (2003-2015).
- Individualized treatment decisions between MMT and PI based on clinical status and patient preference.
- Outcomes compared with historical data (1949-1999) and analyzed by American Joint Committee on Cancer stage.
Main Results:
- The MMT group showed a median overall survival (OS) of 21 months versus 3.9 months for the PI group (P=0.0006).
- For stage IVB ATC, MMT resulted in a median OS of 22.4 months compared to 4 months for PI (P=0.0001), with 68% 1-year survival versus 0%.
- No significant difference in OS was observed for stage IVC patients treated with MMT versus PI.
Conclusions:
- Multimodal therapy (MMT) demonstrates a significant survival benefit for anaplastic thyroid cancer patients with stage IVA/B disease.
- MMT represents a promising therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in specific subsets of advanced ATC patients.
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