Evaluating new treatments for anaplastic thyroid cancer

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most lethal diseases known to humans with a median survival of 5 months. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) recently published guidelines for the treatment of this dreadful thyroid malignancy.

Areas covered

This review presents the current therapeutic landscape of this challenging disease. We also present the results from trials published over the last five years and summarize currently active clinical trials.

Expert opinion

Recent attempts to improve the prognosis of these tumors are moving toward personalized medicine, basing the treatment decision on the specific genetic profile of the individual tumor. The positive results of dabrafenib and trametinib for ATC harboring the BRAF V600E mutation have provided a useful treatment option. For the other genetic profiles, different drugs are available and can be used to individualize the treatment, likely using drug combinations. Combinations of drugs act on different molecular pathways and achieve inhibition at separate areas. With new targeted therapies, average survival has improved considerably and death from local disease progression or airway compromise is less likely with improvement in quality of life. Unfortunately, the results remain poor in terms of survival.

KEYWORDS:

• Anaplastic thyroid cancer
• immune checkpoint inhibitors
• immunotherapy
• targeted therapy
• treatment
• Tyrosine-kinase inhibitors

Article highlights

• Anaplastic thyroid cancer is one of the most lethal diseases known to humans with a median survival of 5 months.

• Personalized medicine is probably the key for improving the outcome.

• Dabrafenib and trametinib for tumors harboring the BRAF V600E mutation have provided a useful treatment option.

• Combinations of drugs acting on different molecular pathways are the last attempt for fighting this cancer.

Declaration of interest

MDW- Scientific Advisory and consulting for Bayer Pharmaceuticals. The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers of this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper received no funding.