Recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) aided radioiodine treatment for residual or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer

Effect of withdrawal of thyroid hormones versus administration of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone on renal function in thyroid cancer patients

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) and recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) administration on renal function in patients with thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy. This study included 202 patients who discontinued thyroid hormone therapy and/or received rhTSH after total thyroidectomy. Creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were assessed at the following three time points: before thyroidectomy, at least 3 weeks after THW, and 1 day after the second injection of rhTSH. The median serum Cr level was significantly higher following THW compared to that before thyroidectomy (0.95 versus 0.70). In contrast, the median BUN level was significantly lower after THW compared to that before thyroidectomy (9.8 versus 11.3). Over a fifth (22.2%) of patients had abnormal eGFR values after THW, which was significantly greater than that before thyroidectomy. In contrast, renal parameter values after rhTSH administration were not significantly different than those before thyroidectomy. In conclusion, THW affects renal function in patients with thyroid cancer who have undergone total thyroidectomy. However, renal function in such patients is not affected by rhTSH administration.

Strategies for Radioiodine Treatment: What’s New

Radioiodine treatment (RAI) represents the most widespread and effective therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). RAI goals encompass ablative (destruction of thyroid remnants, to enhance thyroglobulin predictive value), adjuvant (destruction of microscopic disease to reduce recurrences), and therapeutic (in case of macroscopic iodine avid lesions) purposes, but its use has evolved over time. Randomized trial results have enabled the refinement of RAI indications, moving from a standardized practice to a tailored approach. In most cases, low-risk patients may safely avoid RAI, but where necessary, a simplified protocol, based on lower iodine activities and human recombinant TSH preparation, proved to be just as effective, reducing overtreatment or useless impairment of quality of life. In pediatric DTC, RAI treatments may allow tumor healing even at the advanced stages. Finally, new challenges have arisen with the advancement in redifferentiation protocols, through which RAI still represents a leading therapy, even in former iodine refractory cases. RAI therapy is usually well-tolerated at low activities rates, but some concerns exist concerning higher cumulative doses and long-term outcomes. Despite these achievements, several issues still need to be addressed in terms of RAI indications and protocols, heading toward the RAI strategy of the future.

Recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH)-aided radioiodine treatment for non-toxic multinodular goitre

BACKGROUND

Multinodular goitre is common in women. Treatments for non-toxic multinodular goitre include surgery, levothyroxine suppressive therapy, and radioiodine. Radioiodine therapy is the only non-surgical alternative for non-toxic multinodular goitre. However, a high amount of radioiodine is needed to enable the thyroid nodules to adequately take up the radioiodine, because the multinodular goitre takes up a low amount of iodine. Recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) has been used to increase radioiodine uptake and reduce thyroid volume of the multinodular goitre. Whether the improved reduction of the goitre resulting from rhTSH-stimulated radioiodine therapy is beneficial to the person remains controversial.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of recombinant human thyrotropin-aided radioiodine treatment for non-toxic multinodular goitre.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Scopus as well as ICTRP Search Portal and ClinicalTrials.gov. The date of the last search of all databases was 18 December 2020.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of rhTSH-aided radioiodine treatment compared with radioiodine alone for non-toxic multinodular goitre, with at least 12 months of follow-up.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts for relevance. Screening for inclusion, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were carried out by one review author and checked by a second. Our main outcomes were health-related quality of life (QoL), hypothyroidism, adverse events, thyroid volume, all-cause mortality, and costs. We used a random-effects model to perform meta-analyses, and calculated risk ratios (RRs) for dichotomous outcomes, and mean differences (MDs) for continuous outcomes, using 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for effect estimates. We evaluated the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach.

MAIN RESULTS

We included six RCTs. A total of 197 participants were allocated to rhTSh-aided radioiodine therapy, and 124 participants were allocated to radioiodine. A single dose of radioiodine was administered 24 hours after the intramuscular injection of a single dose of rhTSH. The duration of follow-up ranged between 12 and 36 months. Low-certainty evidence from one study, with 85 participants, showed uncertain effects for QoL for either intervention. RhTSH-aided radioiodine increased hypothyroidism compared with radioiodine alone (64/197 participants (32.5%) in the rhTSH-aided radioiodine group versus 15/124 participants (12.1%) in the radioiodine alone group; RR 2.53, 95% CI 1.52 to 4.20; 6 studies, 321 participants; moderate-certainty evidence in favour of radioiodine alone). A total of 118/197 participants (59.9%) in the rhTSH-aided radioiodine group compared with 60/124 participants (48.4%) in the radioiodine alone group experienced adverse events (random-effects RR 1.24, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.63; 6 studies, 321 participants; fixed-effect RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.49 in favour of radioiodine only; low-certainty evidence). RhTSH-aided radioiodine reduced thyroid volume with a MD of 11.9% (95% CI 4.4 to 19.4; 6 studies, 268 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). One study with 28 participants reported one death in the radioiodine alone group (very-low certainty evidence). No study reported on costs.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

RhTSH-aided radioiodine treatment for non-toxic multinodular goitre, compared to radioiodine alone, probably increased the risk of hypothyroidism but probably led to a greater reduction in thyroid volume. Data on QoL and costs were sparse or missing.

Personalized management of differentiated thyroid cancer in real life - practical guidance from a multidisciplinary panel of experts

PURPOSE

The standard of care for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) includes surgery, risk-adapted postoperative radioiodine therapy (RaIT), individualized thyroid hormone therapy, and follow-up for detection of patients with persistent or recurrent disease. In 2019, the nine Martinique Principles for managing thyroid cancer were developed by the American Thyroid Association, European Association of Nuclear Medicine, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, and European Thyroid Association. In this review, we present our clinical practice recommendations with regard to implementing these principles in the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up of patients with DTC.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary panel of five thyroid cancer experts addressed the implementation of the Martinique Principles in routine clinical practice based on clinical experience and evidence from the literature.

RESULTS

We provide a suggested approach for the assessment and diagnosis of DTC in routine clinical practice, including the use of neck ultrasound, measurement of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and calcitonin, fine-needle aspiration, cytology, and molecular imaging. Recommendations for the use of surgery (lobectomy vs. total thyroidectomy) and postoperative RaIT are also provided. Long-term follow-up with neck ultrasound and measurement of serum anti-thyroglobulin antibody and basal/stimulated thyroglobulin is standard, with ¹²³/¹³¹I radioiodine diagnostic whole-body scans and ¹⁸F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography suggested in selected patients. Management of metastatic DTC should involve a multidisciplinary team.

CONCLUSIONS

In routine clinical practice, the Martinique Principles should be implemented in order to optimize clinical management/outcomes of patients with DTC.

A Systematic Review of Adjuvant Interventions for Radioiodine in Patients with Thyroid Cancer

AIMS

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of adjuvant interventions for radioiodine in patients with thyroid cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic search was undertaken on July 9, 2014. RevMan 5 software was used to synthesize data.

RESULTS

13 randomized controlled trials were included. The pooled risk ratio of 0.99 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.96-1.02, p = 0.58) indicated no significant difference in successful thyroid remnant ablation between recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) and thyroid hormone withdrawal in 7 trials. The percentage of patients who had successful ablation was significantly higher in the oral-lithium group than in the control group (p = 0.017). A computerized decision aid improves informed decision-making in patients with early-stage papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) who are considering adjuvant radioiodine treatment (p < 0.001). Amifostine pretreatment did not prevent parenchymal damage to the major salivary gland function after radioiodine treatment (p = 0.2461).

CONCLUSIONS

The present systematic review suggests that rhTSH, lithium, and computerized decision aids maybe act as beneficial adjuvant interventions for radioiodine in patients with thyroid cancer; however, amifostine does not exhibit helpful effects in thyroid cancer patients treated with radioiodine.

The effectiveness of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone versus thyroid hormone withdrawal prior to radioiodine remnant ablation in thyroid cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

We evaluated the efficacy of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) versus thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) prior to radioiodine remnant ablation (RRA) in thyroid cancer. A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and SCOPUS was performed. Randomized controlled trials that compared ablation success between rhTSH and THW at 6 to 12 months following RRA were included in this study. Six trials with a total of 1,660 patients were included. When ablation success was defined as a thyroglobulin (Tg) cutoff of 1 ng/mL (risk ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.96-1.03) or a Tg cutoff of 1 ng/mL plus imaging modality (RR 0.97; 0.90-1.05), the results of rhTSH and THW were similar. There were no significant differences when ablation success was defined as a Tg cutoff of 2 ng/mL (RR 1.03; 0.95-1.11) or a Tg cutoff of 2 ng/mL plus imaging modality (RR 1.02; 0.95-1.09). When a negative (131)I-whole body scan was used solely as the definition of ablation success, the effects of rhTSH and THW were not significantly different (RR 0.97; 0.93-1.02). Therefore, ablation success rates are comparable when RRA is prepared by either rhTSH or THW.

rhTSH-aided low-activity versus high-activity regimens of radioiodine in residual ablation for differentiated thyroid cancer: a meta-analysis

The effects of low-activity versus high-activity radioiodine regimens in thyroid remnant ablation for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) under recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) stimulation have been widely quoted but there has been no systematic review of the evidence. We undertook a systematic review of randomized controlled trials to assess the effects of low-activity radioiodine in thyroid remnant ablation in patients with DTC under rhTSH stimulation compared with high-activity radioiodine. Studies were obtained from computerized searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library (all until September 2012). Randomized controlled trials were included. Altogether, 637 patients with DTC who participated in three trials for residual ablation were included. Overall, studies had a low risk of bias. We found no statistically significant differences between low-activity (1.11/1.85 GBq) and high-activity (3.7 GBq) radioiodine treatment aided by rhTSH in terms of successful ablation rates on the basis of diagnostic scans [odds ratio (OR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49–1.47, P=0.56], thyroglobulin levels (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.38–1.15, P=0.14), and health-related quality of life (mean difference 0.07, 95% CI −0.96 to 1.09, P=0.9). In addition, the subgroup analysis of 1.11 versus 3.7 GBq (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.46–1.49, P=0.53) and 1.85 versus 3.7 GBq (OR 1, 95% CI 0.23–4.35, P=1) also showed no significant differences. The lower activity of 1.11 GBq showed significant benefit in terms of reduction in adverse events including neck pain, radiation gastritis, and salivary dysfunction during and after ablation (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42–0.93, P=0.02). Limited data from three randomized controlled trials suggested that an rhTSH-aided low radioiodine activity level of as low as 1.115 GBq may be sufficient for thyroid remnant ablation when compared with 3.7 GBq, with fewer common adverse effects in patients with metastasis-free DTC. Further evidence is needed to confirm the effects of low-activity radioiodine for thyroid remnant ablation. Radioiodine treatment of 1.11 GBq showed significant benefit in terms of reduction in adverse events including neck pain, radiation gastritis, and salivary dysfunction during and after ablation (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.42–0.93, P=0.02). rhTSH-aided low radioiodine activity levels of 1.11 and 1.85 GBq are sufficient for thyroid remnant ablation as compared with 3.7 GBq, with fewer common adverse effects in patients with metastasis-free DTC. A well-designed study that compares low-activity with high-activity radioiodine ablation is needed to fully understand the long-term adverse effects and relapse or metastases.

New developments in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer exists in several forms. Differentiated thyroid cancers include those with papillary and follicular histologies. These tumors exist along a spectrum of differentiation, and their incidence continues to climb. A number of advances in the diagnosis and treatment of differentiated thyroid cancers now exist. These include molecular diagnostics and more advanced strategies for risk stratification. Medullary cancer arises from the parafollicular cells and not the follicular cells. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment differs from those of differentiated thyroid tumors. Genetic testing and newer adjuvant therapies have changed the diagnosis and treatment of medullary thyroid cancer. This review will focus on the epidemiology, diagnosis, workup, and treatment of both differentiated and medullary thyroid cancers, focusing specifically on newer developments in the field.

Thyroid stimulating hormone increases iodine uptake by thyroid cancer cells during BRAF silencing

BACKGROUND

The BRAF(V600E) mutation is present in 62% of radioactive iodine-resistant thyroid tumors and is associated with downregulation of the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHr). We sought to evaluate the combined effect of BRAF inhibition and TSH supplementation on (131)I uptake of BRAF(V600E)-mutant human thyroid cancer cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

WRO cells (a BRAF(V600E)-mutant follicular-derived papillary thyroid carcinoma cell line) were transfected with small interfering RNA targeting BRAF for 72 h in a physiological TSH environment. NIS and TSHr expression were then evaluated at three levels: gene expression, protein levels, and (131)I uptake. These three main outcomes were then reassessed in TSH-depleted media and media supplemented with supratherapeutic concentrations of TSH.

RESULTS

NIS gene expression increased 5.5-fold 36 h after transfection (P = 0.01), and TSHr gene expression increased 2.8-fold at 24 h (P = 0.02). NIS and TSHr protein levels were similarly increased 48 and 24 h after transfection, respectively. Seventy-two hours after BRAF inhibition, (131)I uptake was unchanged in TSH-depleted media, increased by 7.5-fold (P < 0.01) in physiological TSH media, and increased by 9.1-fold (P < 0.01) in supratherapeutic TSH media.

CONCLUSIONS

The combined strategy of BRAF inhibition and TSH supplementation results in greater (131)I uptake than when either technique is used alone. This represents a simple and feasible approach that may improve outcomes in patients with radioactive iodine-resistant thyroid carcinomas for which current treatment algorithms are ineffective.

Role of Recombinant Human Thyrotropin (rhTSH) in the Treatment of Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Since the introduction of radioiodine (RAI) for treatment of well-differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) more than 50 years ago, prolonged periods of hypothyroidism were routinely used as part of the treatment regimen. Recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) was introduced in the 1990s as a tool to elevate the serum TSH without the need for thyroid hormone withdrawal and symptomatic hypothyroidism. After being initially approved as a diagnostic tool for use in RAI scanning and stimulated thyroglobulin testing, rhTSH was approved as an adjunct to RAI remnant ablation in patients without distant metastases in Europe in 2005 and in the US in 2007. Following successful use of rhTSH for diagnostic purposes, it has been extensively studied for use with therapeutic doses of RAI in the setting of RAI remnant ablation and is now an integral part of DCT therapy. The use of rhTSH in clinical practice in the last decade was coupled with the growing interest in an individualized, risk-stratified approach to the management of patients with DCT. While traditional treatment for DTC included surgery and RAI therapy for all patients, many more recent studies demonstrated the value of selective use of RAI only in patients who will probably benefit from treatment. This manuscript reviews the evolving role of rhTSH in the current risk adapted climate of thyroid cancer management with particular emphasis on the use of rhTSH as an aid to RAI therapy.