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Ferrari SM, Ragusa F, Elia G, Mazzi V, Balestri E, Botrini C, Rugani L, Patrizio A, Piaggi S, La Motta C, Ulisse S, Virili C, Antonelli A, Fallahi P. Antineoplastic Effect of ALK Inhibitor Crizotinib in Primary Human Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Cells with STRN-ALK Fusion In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6734. [PMID: 38928438 PMCID: PMC11203609 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the deadliest human cancers and represents <2% of thyroid carcinomas. A therapeutic target for ATC is represented by anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements, involved in tumor growth. Crizotinib is an oral small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the ALK, MET, and ROS1 kinases, approved in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Until now, the effect of crizotinib in "primary human ATC cells" (pATCs) with transforming striatin (STRN)-ALK fusion has not been reported in the literature. In this study, we aimed to obtain pATCs with STRN-ALK in vitro and evaluate the in vitro antineoplastic action of crizotinib. Thyroid surgical samples were obtained from 12 ATC patients and 6 controls (who had undergone parathyroidectomy). A total of 10/12 pATC cultures were obtained, 2 of which with transforming STRN-ALK fusion (17%). Crizotinib inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion and increased apoptosis in 3/10 pATC cultures (2 of which with/1 without STRN-ALK), particularly in those with STRN-ALK. Moreover, crizotinib significantly inhibited the proliferation of AF cells (a continuous cell line obtained from primary ATC cells). In conclusion, the antineoplastic activity of crizotinib has been shown in human pATCs (with STRN-ALK) in preclinical studies in vitro, opening the way to future clinical evaluation in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.R.); (G.E.); (V.M.); (E.B.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (A.A.)
| | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.R.); (G.E.); (V.M.); (E.B.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (A.A.)
| | - Valeria Mazzi
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.R.); (G.E.); (V.M.); (E.B.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (A.A.)
| | - Eugenia Balestri
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.R.); (G.E.); (V.M.); (E.B.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (A.A.)
| | - Chiara Botrini
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.R.); (G.E.); (V.M.); (E.B.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (A.A.)
| | - Licia Rugani
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.R.); (G.E.); (V.M.); (E.B.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (A.A.)
| | - Armando Patrizio
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Simona Piaggi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.P.); (P.F.)
| | | | - Salvatore Ulisse
- Department of Surgery, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Camilla Virili
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Endocrinology Section, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 04100 Latina, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.R.); (G.E.); (V.M.); (E.B.); (C.B.); (L.R.); (A.A.)
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.P.); (P.F.)
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Liu S, Yan X, Yang Y, Xia Y, Zhang P. Knowledge mapping of anaplastic thyroid cancer treatments: a bibliometric analysis (2000-2023). Front Oncol 2024; 14:1330030. [PMID: 38420016 PMCID: PMC10899696 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1330030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Context Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a relatively rare and extensively malignant kind of thyroid carcinoma. The poor prognosis and high mortality rate of ATC can be attributed to its invasive features and undifferentiated phenotype. At present, there is a lack of efficacious therapeutic options. In light of the elevated fatality rate, it is vital to possess a comprehensive comprehension of the scientific terrain pertaining to ATC. To gather the perspectives of different researchers about the topic of ATC treatment, we did a bibliometric network analysis, which offers a comprehensive view of the scholarly literature. Methodology A systematic search was conducted on the WoSCC database to identify publications pertaining to ATC treatment between the years 2000 and 2023. In this bibliometric investigation, the tools VOSviewers, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrix" were employed to investigate the general attributes, developmental framework, and academic frontiers of the subject matter. Results 1223 publications in total, written by 6937 scholars from 53 areas and 1402 institutions and published in 358 scholarly journals, were analyzed. There has been a gradual increase in the quantity of publications pertaining to ATC treatment. The United States and China emerged as the most prominent nations. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Counseling Center are prominent research institutions in highly productive countries. The journal Thyroid holds a prominent position within its discipline, being widely recognized as both the most popular and highly co-cited publication. According to the available data, Maria Cabanillas has authored the highest number of published articles, while RC Smallridge has received the highest number of co-citations. It turned out that the prevailing keywords encompassed expression, therapy, apoptosis, survival, activation, proliferation, metastasis, and other related terms. Immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and prognostic factors are the emerging research hotspots and trends. Conclusions This paper presents a complete overview of research trends and advancements in the treatment of ATC using bibliometric analysis. The acquisition of information will offer vital insights for funding and potential creative strategies in researching the treatment of ATC, which indicates the research frontiers as well as prevalent directions in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqiang Liu
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xingmin Yan
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yalong Yang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yun Xia
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Panshi Zhang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Ferrari SM, Elia G, Ragusa F, Paparo SR, Mazzi V, Patrizio A, Piaggi S, Baldini E, Centanni M, La Motta C, Antonelli A, Fallahi P. Antineoplastic Activity of Pazopanib in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer in Primary Culture. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032398. [PMID: 36768721 PMCID: PMC9916618 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and rapidly fatal human cancer. Its usual treatment includes the combination of surgery, external hyperfractionated radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. These treatments permit achieving about 6-10 months of median survival. For this reason, it is challenging to predict the ATC patient clinical therapy responsiveness. Pazopanib is a multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGF receptors, PDGF, and c-Kit. Until now, the effect of pazopanib in primary human ATC cells (pATC) has not been reported in the literature. The aim of our study was to evaluate in vitro the antineoplastic effect of pazopanib in pATC. Surgical thyroidal tissues were collected from five patients with ATC, from thyroid biopsy at the moment of first surgical operation. An inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasion, and an increase in apoptosis were demonstrated upon treating pATC cells with pazopanib (p < 0.05). Moreover, pazopanib was able to significantly decrease the VEGF expression in pATC cells (p < 0.05). To conclude, in this study, we demonstrate the antineoplastic activity of the antiangiogenic inhibitor, pazopanib, in human pATC in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sabrina Rosaria Paparo
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Valeria Mazzi
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Armando Patrizio
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Simona Piaggi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Enke Baldini
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Centanni
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Latina, Italy
- Endocrine Unit, AUSL Latina, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-050992318
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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De Leo S, Trevisan M, Fugazzola L. Recent advances in the management of anaplastic thyroid cancer. Thyroid Res 2020; 13:17. [PMID: 33292371 PMCID: PMC7684758 DOI: 10.1186/s13044-020-00091-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is undoubtedly the thyroid cancer histotype with the poorest prognosis. The conventional treatment includes surgery, radiotherapy, and conventional chemotherapy. Surgery should be as complete as possible, securing the airway and ensuring access for nutritional support; the current standard of care of radiotherapy is the intensity-modulated radiation therapy; chemotherapy includes the use of doxorubicin or taxanes (paclitaxel or docetaxel) generally with platin (cisplatin or carboplatin). However, frequently, these treatments are not sufficient and a systemic treatment with kinase inhibitors is necessary. These include multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Lenvatinib, Sorafenib, Sunitinib, Vandetanib, Axitinib, Pazopanib, Pyrazolo-pyrimidine compounds), single target tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Dabrafenib plus Trametinib and Vemurafenib against BRAF, Gefitinib against EGFR, PPARγ ligands (e.g. Efatutazone), Everolimus against mTOR, vascular disruptors (e.g. Fosbretabulin), and immunotherapy (e.g. Spartalizumab and Pembrolizumab, which are anti PD-1/PD-L1 molecules). Therapy should be tailored to the patients and to the tumor genetic profile. A BRAF mutation analysis is mandatory, but a wider evaluation of tumor mutational status (e.g. by next-generation sequencing) is desirable. When a BRAFV600E mutation is detected, treatment with Dabrafenib and Trametinib should be preferred: this combination has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic ATC with BRAFV600E mutation and with no satisfactory locoregional treatment options. Alternatively, Lenvatinib, regardless of mutational status, reported good results and was approved in Japan for treating unresectable tumors. Other single target mutation agents with fair results are Everolimus when a mutation involving the PI3K/mTOR pathway is detected, Imatinib in case of PDGF-receptors overexpression, and Spartalizumab in case of PD-L1 positive tumors. Several trials are currently evaluating the possible beneficial role of a combinatorial therapy in ATC. Since in this tumor several genetic alterations are usually found, the aim is to inhibit or disrupt several pathways: these combination strategies use therapy targeting angiogenesis, survival, proliferation, and may act against both MAPK and PI3K pathways. Investigating new treatment options is eagerly awaited since, to date, even the molecules with the best radiological results have not been able to provide a durable disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone De Leo
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia, 20, 20149, Milan, Italy.
| | - Matteo Trevisan
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Fugazzola
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Piazzale Brescia, 20, 20149, Milan, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Fallahi P, Ferrari SM, Elia G, Ragusa F, Patrizio A, Paparo SR, Marone G, Galdiero MR, Guglielmi G, Foddis R, Cristaudo A, Antonelli A. Primary cell cultures for the personalized therapy in aggressive thyroid cancer of follicular origin. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 79:203-216. [PMID: 32569821 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most prevalent endocrine malignancy. More than 90 % of TC is represented by differentiated TC (DTC) arising from the follicular thyroid cells. DTC includes papillary TC (PTC), follicular TC (FTC), and Hürthle cell TC. Anaplastic TC (ATC) accounts for 1% of TC, and it represents 15-40 % of TC death. Current treatment strategies are not completely effective against aggressive DTC or ATC, and mortality is one of the most important challenges. Recently, progresses have been obtained in the understanding of the molecular/genetic basis of TC progression, and new drugs have been introduced [i.e. tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)], able to block the oncogenic or signaling kinases, associated with cellular growth. Thyroid cell lines, obtained from tumoral cells and chosen for high proliferation in vitro, have been used as preclinical models. Actually, these cells lose the characteristic features of the primary tumor, because they adapt to in vitro growth conditions. For these reasons, the use of these cell lines has important limitations, and more recently human primary cell cultures have been established as monolayer cultures, and investigated for their biological behavior. Moreover, in the past, primary TC cells could be collected only through surgical biopsies, while recently human primary cell cultures can be established also from samples of fine-needle aspiration citology from aggressive dedifferentiated DTC or ATC. Testing in vitro different TKIs in each patient can help to develop new personalized treatments, without using ineffective drugs. In conclusion, personalized medicine and precise oncology, which consider both patients and their disease features, represent the future of the treatment approach, and further progress is needed in this direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Armando Patrizio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Gianni Marone
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; World Allergy Organization Center of Excellence, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore", National Research Council, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Galdiero
- Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; World Allergy Organization Center of Excellence, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology "Gaetano Salvatore", National Research Council, 80131 Naples, Italy; Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Guglielmi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Rudy Foddis
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alfonso Cristaudo
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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Rajabi S, Shakib H, Dastmalchi R, Danesh-Afrooz A, Karima S, Hedayati M. Metastatic propagation of thyroid cancer; organ tropism and major modulators. Future Oncol 2020; 16:1301-1319. [PMID: 32421354 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2019-0780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer, as the most prevalent endocrine malignancy, comprises nearly 1% of all cancers in the world. The metastatic propagation of thyroid cancer is under the control of a number of modulating processes and factors such as signaling pathways and their components, cell division regulators, metabolic reprogramming factors, extracellular matrix remodelers, epithelial to mesenchymal transition modulators, epigenetic mechanisms, hypoxia and cytokines. Identifying the exact molecular mechanisms of these dysregulated processes could help to discover the key targets for therapeutic purposes and utilizing them as diagnostic, prognostic and predictors of the clinical course of patients. In this review article, we describe different aspects of thyroid cancer metastasis by focusing on defective genes and pathways involved in its metastatic spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadegh Rajabi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Heewa Shakib
- Cellular & Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Romina Dastmalchi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afsoon Danesh-Afrooz
- Cellular & Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Karima
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Hedayati
- Cellular & Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Prediction of the potential biological activity of novel spiropyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines and spiropyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5,5'-pyrimidines by a ligand-protein inverse-docking approach. J Mol Graph Model 2020; 97:107581. [PMID: 32199275 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2020.107581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The interaction of a series of spiropyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines and spiropyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5,5'-pyrimidines with 975 molecular targets involved in different diseases and biochemical alterations in humans was assessed. In-silico and in-vivo methods were used to predict the potential biological activity of these compounds. The exposure of several individuals of C. elegans to these compounds shows that their lethality would be less than 10% and that they do not induce any alteration in their locomotion. The compounds identified as PRV-8 and 13-G were the most bioactive, and also showed other advantages such as; better structural properties, adequate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, and good flexibility and unsaturation, which placed them as the compounds of greatest interest to be tested in-vitro and in-vivo. The series of compounds described here exhibited significant interactions with the estrogen signaling pathway.
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Ferrari SM, Elia G, Ragusa F, Ruffilli I, La Motta C, Paparo SR, Patrizio A, Vita R, Benvenga S, Materazzi G, Fallahi P, Antonelli A. Novel treatments for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Gland Surg 2020; 9:S28-S42. [PMID: 32055496 DOI: 10.21037/gs.2019.10.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the deadliest human cancers and it is less than 2% of thyroid carcinomas (TCs). The standard treatment of ATC includes surgical debulking, accelerated hyperfractionated external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), and chemotherapy, in particular with cisplatin or doxorubicin, achieving about 10 months of median survival. Since ATC is a rare and aggressive tumor, it is still challenging to predict the patient clinical therapy responsiveness. Several genetic mutations have been described in ATC, involved in different molecular pathways linked to tumor progression, and novel therapies acting on these molecular pathways have been investigated, to improve the quality of life in these patients. Here we review the new targeted therapy of ATC. We report interesting results obtained with molecules targeting different pathways: angiogenesis (vandetanib, combretastatin, sorafenib, lenvatinib, sunitinib, CLM94, CLM3, etc.); EGFR (gefitinib, docetaxel); BRAF (dabrafenib/trametinib, vemurafenib); PPARγ agonists (rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, efatutazone); PD-1 and PD-L1 (pembrolizumab); TERT. To escape resistance to monotherapies, the evaluation of combination strategies with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or targeted drugs is ongoing. The results of clinical trials with dabrafenib and trametinib led to the approval from FDA of this combination for patients with BRAF V600E mutated ATC with locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic ATC. The anti-PD-L1 antibody immunotherapy, alone or combined with a BRAF inhibitor, has been shown also promising in the treatment of ATC. Furthermore, to increase the therapeutic success and not to use ineffective or even harmful treatments, a real tailored therapy should be pursued, and this can be achieved thanks to the new available genomic analysis methods and to the possibility to test in vitro novel treatments directly in primary cells from each ATC patient. Exploring new treatment strategies is mandatory to improve the survival of these patients, guaranteeing a good quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Ruffilli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Armando Patrizio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberto Vita
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Salvatore Benvenga
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Master Program on Childhood, Adolescent and Women's Endocrine Health, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.,Interdepartmental Program on Molecular & Clinical Endocrinology, and Women's Endocrine Health, University hospital, A.O.U. Policlinico Gaetano Martino, Messina, Italy
| | - Gabriele Materazzi
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research of New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Ferrari SM, Fallahi P, La Motta C, Elia G, Ragusa F, Ruffilli I, Patrizio A, Baldini E, Ulisse S, Antonelli A. Recent advances in precision medicine for the treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer. EXPERT REVIEW OF PRECISION MEDICINE AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/23808993.2019.1565940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Ruffilli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Armando Patrizio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Enke Baldini
- Department of Surgical Sciences, ‘Sapienza’ University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Ulisse
- Department of Surgical Sciences, ‘Sapienza’ University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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10
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Saini S, Tulla K, Maker AV, Burman KD, Prabhakar BS. Therapeutic advances in anaplastic thyroid cancer: a current perspective. Mol Cancer 2018; 17:154. [PMID: 30352606 PMCID: PMC6198524 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-018-0903-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer incidence is increasing at an alarming rate, almost tripling every decade. In 2017, it was the fifth most common cancer in women. Although the majority of thyroid tumors are curable, about 2-3% of thyroid cancers are refractory to standard treatments. These undifferentiated, highly aggressive and mostly chemo-resistant tumors are phenotypically-termed anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). ATCs are resistant to standard therapies and are extremely difficult to manage. In this review, we provide the information related to current and recently emerged first-line systemic therapy (Dabrafenib and Trametinib) along with promising therapeutics which are in clinical trials and may be incorporated into clinical practice in the future. Different categories of promising therapeutics such as Aurora kinase inhibitors, multi-kinase inhibitors, epigenetic modulators, gene therapy using oncolytic viruses, apoptosis-inducing agents, and immunotherapy are reviewed. Combination treatment options that showed synergistic and antagonistic effects are also discussed. We highlight ongoing clinical trials in ATC and discuss how personalized medicine is crucial to design the second line of treatment. Besides using conventional combination therapy, embracing a personalized approach based on advanced genomics and proteomics assessment will be crucial to developing a tailored treatment plan to improve the chances of clinical success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikha Saini
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois-College of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Kiara Tulla
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois-College of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Ajay V. Maker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois-College of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Illinois-College of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
| | | | - Bellur S. Prabhakar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois-College of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL USA
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Ferrari SM, La Motta C, Elia G, Ragusa F, Ruffilli I, Quattrini L, Paparo SR, Piaggi S, Patrizio A, Ulisse S, Baldini E, Materazzi G, Fallahi P, Antonelli A. Antineoplastic Effect of Lenvatinib and Vandetanib in Primary Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Cells Obtained From Biopsy or Fine Needle Aspiration. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:764. [PMID: 30619094 PMCID: PMC6305332 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a malignant tumor of the thyroid gland, infrequent but with a very poor prognosis, as it rapidly causes death (mean survival of about 6 months). ATC treatment includes a multimodal protocol consisting of surgery, chemotherapy (doxorubicin and cisplatin), and hyperfractionated accelerated external beam radiotherapy (median patient survival of 10 months). For this reason, the identification of an effective systemic treatment for ATC would be a major advance in the management of this deadly thyroid cancer. The opportunity to test the sensitivity to different drugs of primary cells from ATC (pATC) cultures, obtained from each patients, could improve the effectiveness of the treatment. Then, the administration of inactive therapeutics could be avoided. Our aim is to investigate the antineoplastic effect of two tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs; lenvatinib, vandetanib) in pATC obtained both from biopsy (biop-pATC), and from fine needle aspiration (FNA-pATC). The antiproliferative activity of lenvatinib and vandetanib was evaluated in 6 ATC patients, on biop-pATC, such as on FNA-pATC. A significant reduction of proliferation (obtained by WST-1 assay) vs. control was shown with lenvatinib and vandetanib in FNA-pATC, as well as in biop-pATC. The percentage of apoptosis in FNA-pATC, or biop-pATC, increased with both compounds dose-dependently. pATC cells from FNA, or biopsy, had a similar sensitivity to lenvatinib and vandetanib. In conclusion, primary cells (biop-pATC or FNA-pATC) have a similar sensitivity to TKIs, and lenvatinib and vandetanib are effective in reducing cell growth, increasing apoptosis in ATC. The possibility to test the sensitivity to different TKIs in each patient could open the way to personalized treatments, avoiding the administration of ineffective, and potentially dangerous, drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Ruffilli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Simona Piaggi
- Department of Translational Research and of New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Armando Patrizio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Salvatore Ulisse
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enke Baldini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Materazzi
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research and of New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alessandro Antonelli
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Fallahi P, Ruffilli I, Elia G, Ragusa F, Ulisse S, Baldini E, Miccoli M, Materazzi G, Antonelli A, Ferrari SM. Novel treatment options for anaplastic thyroid cancer. Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab 2017; 12:279-288. [PMID: 30058884 DOI: 10.1080/17446651.2017.1340155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Several genetic alterations have been identified in different molecular pathways ofanaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) and associated with tumor aggressiveness and progression (BRAF, p53,RAS, EGFR, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, etc). New drugs targeting these molecular pathways have beenrecently evaluated in ATC. Areas covered: We review the new targeted therapies of ATC. Interesting results have been reported with molecules targeting different pathways, as: a-BRAF (dabrafenib/trametinib, vemurafenib); b-angiogenesis (sorafenib, combretastatin, vandetanib, sunitinib, lenvatinib, CLM3, etc); c-EGFR (gefitinib); d- PPARγ agonists (rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, efatutazone). In patients with ATC treated with lenvatinib, a median overall survival of 10.6 (3.8-19.8) months was reported. In order to bypass the resistance to the single drug, the capability of targeted drugs to synergize with radiation, or chemotherapy, or other targeted drugs is explored. Expert commentary: New, affordable and individual genomic analysis combined with the opportunity to test these new treatments in primary cell cultures from every ATC patient in vitro, may permit the personalization of therapy. Increasing the therapeutic effectiveness and avoiding the use of ineffective drugs. The identification of new treatments is necessary, to extend life duration guaranteing a good quality of life. To bypass the resistance to asingle drug, the capability of targeted drugs to synergize with radiation, or chemotherapy, or othertargeted drugs is explored. Moreover, new affordable individual genomic analysis and the opportunity totest these novel treatments in primary cell cultures from every ATC patient in vitro, might permit topersonalize the therapy, increasing the therapeutic effectiveness and avoiding the use of ineffectivedrugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poupak Fallahi
- a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy
| | - Ilaria Ruffilli
- a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy
| | - Giusy Elia
- a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy
| | - Salvatore Ulisse
- b Department of Experimental Medicine , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
| | - Enke Baldini
- b Department of Experimental Medicine , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
| | - Mario Miccoli
- a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy
| | - Gabriele Materazzi
- c Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- a Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy
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Antonelli A, La Motta C. Novel therapeutic clues in thyroid carcinomas: The role of targeting cancer stem cells. Med Res Rev 2017; 37:1299-1317. [PMID: 28586525 DOI: 10.1002/med.21448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid carcinomas (TCs), the most common endocrine tumors, represent the eighth most common cancer diagnosed worldwide in both women and men. To treat these malignancies, several drugs are now available and a number of novel ones have been enrolling in clinical trials, addressing both oncogenic pathways in cancer cells and angiogenic pathways in tumor endothelial cells. However, their use is not devoid of serious toxicities and their efficacy is limited, being dependent on carcinoma typology and the occurrence of acquired resistance. Accordingly, it is time to recast therapeutic strategies against these types of tumors to get to newer and fully effective drugs. In this perspective, latest findings demonstrate that cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a challenging target to strike. They possess core traits of self-renewal and differentiation, being resistant to the effects of chemotherapy and radiation and playing a key role in mediating metastasis. Therefore, basic molecular elements sustaining both development of thyroid cancer stem cells and their residence in the stemness condition represent a set of innovative and still unexplored targets to address. In this review, a thorough literature survey has been accomplished, to take stock of mechanisms governing thyroid carcinomas and to point out both their currently available treatments and the novel forthcoming ones. Pubmed, Scifinder and ClinicalTrials.gov were exploited as research applications and registry database, respectively. Original articles, reviews, and editorials published within the last ten years, as well as open clinical investigations in the field, were analyzed to suggest new exciting therapeutic opportunities for people affected by TCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Antonelli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Concettina La Motta
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
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