Pemetrexed-carboplatin salvage therapy in advanced thyroid cancers

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Thyroid Cancer Research
• Chemotherapy

Background:

• Advanced thyroid cancers often progress despite targeted therapies, necessitating effective salvage treatments.
• Limited survival options exist for patients with refractory advanced thyroid cancer.
• There is a critical need for novel therapeutic strategies in advanced thyroid cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of pemetrexed-carboplatin (PC) as a salvage treatment for advanced thyroid cancer.
• To assess response rates and progression-free survival in patients with refractory thyroid cancer treated with PC.
• To reinforce existing clinical trial data on pemetrexed's efficacy in advanced thyroid malignancies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patients with refractory advanced thyroid cancer treated with pemetrexed-carboplatin (PC).
• Study conducted at Mayo Clinic since 2019.
• Inclusion of patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) and differentiated/poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

Main Results:

• Seven patients with differentiated or poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) experienced durable responses, with a median progression-free survival of 29 months.
• One patient with anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), refractory to multiple prior therapies, achieved a durable response on fourth-line PC treatment.
• This patient with ATC remains on therapy for over 12 months post-initial response.

Conclusions:

• Pemetrexed-carboplatin (PC) demonstrates potent efficacy as a salvage therapy for advanced thyroid cancers.
• The findings support prior phase I clinical trial data regarding pemetrexed's effectiveness.
• This salvage regimen offers a promising treatment option for patients with the most advanced and refractory thyroid cancers.