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Sekihara K, Himuro H, Toda S, Saito N, Hirayama R, Suganuma N, Sasada T, Hoshino D. Recent Trends and Potential of Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1286. [PMID: 38927493 PMCID: PMC11201408 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy characterized by advanced disease at diagnosis and a poor prognosis. Despite multimodal therapeutic approaches that include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, an optimal treatment strategy remains elusive. Current developments in targeted therapies and immunotherapy offer promising avenues for improved outcomes, particularly for BRAF-mutant patients. However, challenges remain regarding overcoming drug resistance and developing effective treatments for BRAF-wild-type tumors. This comprehensive review examines the clinical and biological features of ATC, outlines the current standards of care, and discusses recent developments with a focus on the evolving role of radiotherapy. Moreover, it emphasizes the necessity of a multidisciplinary approach and highlights the urgent need for further research to better understand ATC pathogenesis and identify new therapeutic targets. Collaborative efforts, including large-scale clinical trials, are essential for translating these findings into improved patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazumasa Sekihara
- Cancer Biology Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama 2418515, Japan; (K.S.); (S.T.); (N.S.)
- Biospecimen Center, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama 2418515, Japan
| | - Hidetomo Himuro
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama 2418515, Japan; (H.H.); (T.S.)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama 2418515, Japan
| | - Soji Toda
- Cancer Biology Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama 2418515, Japan; (K.S.); (S.T.); (N.S.)
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama 2320024, Japan
| | - Nao Saito
- Cancer Biology Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama 2418515, Japan; (K.S.); (S.T.); (N.S.)
- Biospecimen Center, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama 2418515, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Hirayama
- Department of Charged Particle Therapy Research, QST Hospital, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba 2638555, Japan;
| | - Nobuyasu Suganuma
- Department of Surgery, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 2360004, Japan;
| | - Tetsuro Sasada
- Division of Cancer Immunotherapy, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama 2418515, Japan; (H.H.); (T.S.)
| | - Daisuke Hoshino
- Cancer Biology Division, Kanagawa Cancer Center Research Institute, Yokohama 2418515, Japan; (K.S.); (S.T.); (N.S.)
- Biospecimen Center, Kanagawa Cancer Center, Yokohama 2418515, Japan
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Soll D, Bischoff P, Frisch A, Jensen M, Karadeniz Z, Mogl MT, Horst D, Penzkofer T, Spranger J, Keilholz U, Mai K. First effectiveness data of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab as first-line therapy in advanced anaplastic thyroid cancer: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Endocr Disord 2024; 24:25. [PMID: 38383419 PMCID: PMC10882904 DOI: 10.1186/s12902-024-01555-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and aggressive neoplasm. We still lack effective treatment options, so survival rates remain very low. Here, we aimed to evaluate the activity of the combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab as systemic first-line therapy in ATC. METHODS In a retrospective analysis, we investigated the activity and tolerability of combined lenvatinib (starting dose 14 to 24 mg daily) and pembrolizumab (200 mg every three weeks) as first-line therapy in an institutional cohort of ATC patients. RESULTS Five patients with metastatic ATC received lenvatinib and pembrolizumab as systemic first-line therapy. The median progression-free survival was 4.7 (range 0.8-5.9) months, and the median overall survival was 6.3 (range 0.8-not reached) months. At the first follow-up, one patient had partial response, three patients had stable disease, and one patient was formally not evaluable due to interference of assessment by concomitant acute infectious thyroiditis. This patient was then stable for more than one year and was still on therapy at the data cutoff without disease progression. Further analyses revealed deficient DNA mismatch repair, high CD8+ lymphocyte infiltration, and low macrophage infiltration in this patient. Of the other patients, two had progressive disease after adverse drug reactions and therapy de-escalation, and two died after the first staging. For all patients, the PD-L1 combined positive score ranged from 12 to 100%. CONCLUSIONS The combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab was effective and moderately tolerated in treatment-naïve ATC patients with occasional long-lasting response. However, we could not confirm the exceptional responses for this combination therapy reported before in pretreated patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Soll
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Luisenstr. 13, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Philip Bischoff
- Institute of Pathology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Frisch
- Department of Radiology (CVK), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marie Jensen
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Zehra Karadeniz
- Institute of Pathology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martina T Mogl
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte | Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Horst
- Institute of Pathology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Penzkofer
- Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Radiology (CVK), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Spranger
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), 85784, Neuherberg, Germany
- NutriAct-Competence Cluster Nutrition Research Berlin-Potsdam, 14558, Nuthetal, Germany
| | - Ulrich Keilholz
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Chariteplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Knut Mai
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Center for Cardiovascular Research (CCR), Berlin, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), 85784, Neuherberg, Germany
- NutriAct-Competence Cluster Nutrition Research Berlin-Potsdam, 14558, Nuthetal, Germany
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Califano I, Smulever A, Jerkovich F, Pitoia F. Advances in the management of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: transforming a life-threatening condition into a potentially treatable disease. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2024; 25:123-147. [PMID: 37648897 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-023-09833-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is an infrequent thyroid tumor that usually occurs in elderly patients. There is often a history of previous differentiated thyroid cancer suggesting a biological progression. It is clinically characterized by a locally invasive cervical mass of rapid onset. Metastases are found at diagnosis in 50% of patients. Due to its adverse prognosis, a prompt diagnosis is crucial. In patients with unresectable or metastatic disease, multimodal therapy (chemotherapy and external beam radiotherapy) has yielded poor outcomes with 12-month overall survival of less than 20%. Recently, significant progress has been made in understanding the oncogenic pathways of ATC, leading to the identification of BRAF V600E mutations as the driver oncogene in nearly 40% of cases. The combination of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib (D) and MEK inhibitor trametinib (T) showed outstanding response rates in BRAF-mutated ATC and is now considered the standard of care in this setting. Recently, it was shown that neoadjuvant use of DT followed by surgery achieved 24-month overall survival rates of 80%. Although these approaches have changed the management of ATC, effective therapies are still needed for patients with BRAF wild-type ATC, and high-quality evidence is lacking for most aspects of this neoplasia. Additionally, in real-world settings, timely access to multidisciplinary care, molecular testing, and targeted therapies continues to be a challenge. Health policies are warranted to ensure specialized treatment for ATC.The expanding knowledge of ATC´s molecular biology, in addition to the ongoing clinical trials provides hope for the development of further therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Califano
- Endocrinology Division, Instituto de Oncología AH Roffo, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Anabella Smulever
- Endocrinology Division, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas A. Lanari, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernando Jerkovich
- Endocrinology Division, Hospital de Clínicas, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fabian Pitoia
- Endocrinology Division, Hospital de Clínicas, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Pavlidis ET, Galanis IN, Pavlidis TE. Update on current diagnosis and management of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. World J Clin Oncol 2023; 14:570-583. [PMID: 38179406 PMCID: PMC10762533 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v14.i12.570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma has a favorable prognosis with a 5-year survival rate of over 95%. However, the undifferentiated or anaplastic type accounting for < 0.2%, usually in elderly individuals, exhibits a dismal prognosis with rapid growth and disappointing outcomes. It is the most aggressive form of thyroid carcinoma, with a median survival of 5 mo and poor quality of life (airway obstruction, dysphagia, hoarseness, persistent pain). Early diagnosis and staging are crucial. Diagnostic tools include biopsy (fine needle aspiration, core needle, open surgery), high-resolution ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, [(18)F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomo-graphy/computed tomography, liquid biopsy and microRNAs. The BRAF gene (BRAF-V600E and BRAF wild type) is the most often found molecular factor. Others include the genes RET, KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS. Recent management policy is based on surgery, even debulking, chemotherapy (cisplatin or doxorubicin), radiotherapy (adjuvant or definitive), targeted biological agents and immunotherapy. The last two options constitute novel hopeful management modalities improving the overall survival in these otherwise condemned patients. Anti-programmed death-ligand 1 antibody immunotherapy, stem cell targeted therapies, nanotechnology achievements and artificial intelligence imple-mentation provide novel promising alternatives. Genetic mutations determine molecular pathways, thus indicating novel treatment strategies such as anti-BRAF, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor-A, and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor. Treatment with the combination of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib and the MEK inhibitor trametinib has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in cases with BRAF-V600E gene mutations and is currently the standard care. This neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery ensures a two-year overall survival of 80%. Prognostic factors for improved outcomes have been found to be younger age, earlier tumor stage and radiation therapy. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary, and the therapeutic plan should be individualized based on surveillance and epidemiology end results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efstathios T Pavlidis
- 2nd Propedeutic Department of Surgery, Hippokration General Hospital, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
| | - Ioannis N Galanis
- 2nd Propedeutic Department of Surgery, Hippokration General Hospital, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
| | - Theodoros E Pavlidis
- 2nd Propedeutic Department of Surgery, Hippokration General Hospital, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
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