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Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Published on: February 3, 2023
New Horizons: Emerging Therapies and Targets in Thyroid Cancer
1Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism and Cancer Biology Program, The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio.
Abstract:
The treatment of patients with progressive metastatic follicular cell-derived and medullary thyroid cancers that do not respond to standard therapeutic modalities presents a therapeutic challenge. As a deeper understanding of the molecular drivers for these tumors has occurred and more potent and specific compounds are developed, the number of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments for thyroid cancer has expanded. In addition, with the advent of disease-agnostic target-directed FDA approvals an ever-broadening number of therapeutic options are available for clinicians and patients. However, to date, complete remissions are rare, the average durations of response are relatively modest, and toxicities are common. These factors accentuate the need for further understanding of the mechanisms of resistance that result in treatment failures, the development of biomarkers that can improve patient selection for treatment earlier in the disease process, and the continued need for new therapeutic strategies. In this article, recent approvals relevant to thyroid cancer will be discussed along with selected new potential avenues that might be exploited for future therapies.
Insights
Treating advanced thyroid cancers remains challenging. New FDA-approved therapies offer options, but durable responses and reduced toxicity require further research into resistance mechanisms and biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Progressive metastatic follicular cell-derived and medullary thyroid cancers pose significant treatment challenges.
- Standard therapies are often insufficient for these advanced cancers.
- Recent advancements in understanding molecular drivers have led to new therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments for thyroid cancer.
- To discuss emerging therapeutic avenues for refractory thyroid cancers.
- To highlight the need for understanding treatment resistance and developing biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent FDA approvals for thyroid cancer treatments.
- Discussion of molecular drivers and targeted therapies.
- Exploration of potential future therapeutic strategies.
Main Results:
- The number of FDA-approved treatments for thyroid cancer has increased.
- Disease-agnostic, target-directed approvals broaden therapeutic options.
- Current treatments show rare complete remissions, modest response durations, and common toxicities.
Conclusions:
- Further research is crucial to understand resistance mechanisms and improve patient selection via biomarkers.
- Continued development of novel therapeutic strategies is essential for better outcomes in advanced thyroid cancer.
- Balancing efficacy, duration of response, and toxicity remains a key challenge.
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