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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Spontaneous Murine Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer
Published on: February 3, 2023
Anaplastic thyroid cancer: review of precision therapy options and advances
Noor Khalid1, Razelle Kurzrock2, Shumei Kato3
1Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL, United States of America. nkhalid94@siumed.edu.
Abstract:
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and aggressive tumor with a historical median survival of less than six months. Most patients have advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy has not shown survival benefits. Molecular testing and next-generation sequencing are used to identify specific targets for patients with ATC. If positive for BRAF V600E mutation, patients can be treated with BRAF/MEK inhibitors. Other therapies include tyrosine kinase inhibitors (e.g., lenvatinib) and recently immune checkpoint inhibitors which have shown remarkable results in a subset of patients, including when used along with targeted therapy. An illustrative case of a patient with advanced BRAF-mutant ATC (respiratory failure on a ventilator) who recovered with a combination of the anti-PD1 nivolumab and the BRAF V600E targeted drug vemurafenib is shown. Further studies using biomarker-based gene- and immune-targeted agents, including in combination, are needed in ATC.
Insights
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is aggressive, but targeted therapies show promise. Combining BRAF inhibitors with immune checkpoint inhibitors like nivolumab offers new hope for advanced BRAF-mutant ATC patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis.
- Traditional chemotherapy offers limited survival benefits for ATC patients.
- Identifying molecular targets is crucial for effective ATC treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current treatment strategies for anaplastic thyroid cancer.
- To highlight the efficacy of targeted therapies and immunotherapies.
- To present a case study of combination therapy in advanced ATC.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on ATC treatment modalities.
- Analysis of molecular testing and next-generation sequencing applications.
- Case report of a patient with advanced BRAF-mutant ATC treated with combination therapy.
Main Results:
- BRAF V600E mutation allows treatment with BRAF/MEK inhibitors.
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitors like lenvatinib are used in ATC.
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g., nivolumab) show significant results in a subset of patients, especially with targeted therapy.
- A patient with advanced BRAF-mutant ATC recovered with nivolumab and vemurafenib combination therapy.
Conclusions:
- Targeted therapies and immunotherapies represent a paradigm shift in ATC management.
- Combination therapy, particularly with BRAF inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors, shows potential for advanced ATC.
- Further research into biomarker-driven combination therapies is essential for improving outcomes in ATC.
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