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Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Visualization in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer
Published on: June 9, 2023
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Novel targeted therapies and immunotherapy for advanced thyroid cancers
George E Naoum1,2, Michael Morkos3, Brian Kim4
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
Molecular Cancer
|February 20, 2018
Summary
Thyroid cancers can resist standard treatments. New targeted therapies show limited success due to tumor adaptability, driving research into novel pathways and immunotherapy for advanced thyroid cancer.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) can be resistant to radioactive iodine (RAI) and surgery.
- Targeted therapies like Sorafenib, Lenvatinib, Vandetanib, and Cabozantinib inhibit the MAPK pathway but have limited efficacy in advanced thyroid cancer.
- Tumor resistance mechanisms include activation of parallel signaling pathways and tyrosine kinase receptor (TKR) overexpression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review molecular mechanisms of thyroid tumor resistance to current targeted therapies.
- To highlight novel therapeutic strategies targeting alternative pathways (PI3K, ALK, HER2/3) and their clinical relevance.
- To explore the potential of immunotherapy and targeted therapy in restoring RAI sensitivity for advanced thyroid diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of molecular mechanisms in thyroid cancer.
- Analysis of targeted therapies and their impact on MAPK pathway.
- Exploration of emerging therapeutic targets and immunotherapeutic approaches.
Main Results:
- Thyroid tumors evade targeted therapies by activating alternative signaling pathways.
- Targeting pathways beyond MAPK, such as PI3K, and receptors like HER2/3 shows promise.
- Immunotherapy presents a potential alternative for advanced thyroid cancer treatment.
Conclusions:
- Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to overcome resistance in advanced thyroid cancer.
- Targeting alternative pathways and leveraging immunotherapy can improve patient outcomes.
- Restoring RAI sensitivity with targeted therapy is an area of ongoing research.
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