Conversion surgery after lenvatinib treatment for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: a case report
Haruhiko Yamazaki1, Katsuhiko Masudo2, Sachie Kanada3
1Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Yokohama City University Medical Center, 4-57 Urafunecho, Minami-Ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 232-0024, Japan. yamazaki.har.zo@yokohama-cu.ac.jp.
Surgical Case Reports
|March 15, 2023
Summary
Preoperative lenvatinib treatment showed significant antitumor effects in a patient with unresectable anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), converting the tumor to a resectable state. This approach may improve surgical outcomes for advanced ATC cases.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an aggressive thyroid cancer.
- Lenvatinib, a multikinase inhibitor, has potential preoperative applications despite risks like delayed wound healing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the successful use of lenvatinib in a preoperative setting for unresectable ATC.
- To evaluate lenvatinib's efficacy in converting unresectable ATC to a resectable state for conversion surgery.
Main Methods:
- A 71-year-old patient with unresectable ATC received lenvatinib (24 mg/day).
- The patient underwent conversion surgery (total thyroidectomy and neck dissection) 7 days after lenvatinib withdrawal.
- Histopathological analysis examined tumor response and changes post-lenvatinib treatment.
Main Results:
- Lenvatinib treatment led to a partial response of the primary tumor and lymph node metastases within 13 days.
- Conversion surgery was successfully performed with no postoperative complications.
- Histopathology revealed approximately 50% of the resected tumor was ATC, with 70% of it transformed into granulation tissue due to lenvatinib treatment.
Conclusions:
- Lenvatinib demonstrates significant preoperative antitumor effects in ATC.
- Lenvatinib may enhance tumor resectability, offering a promising therapeutic option for unresectable ATC.
