Neus Basté1,2, Mireia Mora3,4,5, Juan José Grau1,5. 1. Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clinic Barcelona. 2. Translational Genomics and Targeted Therapies in Solid Tumors, IDIBAPS. 3. Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital Clinic Barcelona. 4. Laboratory of Endocrine Disorders, IDIBAPS. 5. University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We review the new systemic treatment strategies for differentiated thyroid carcinoma, as well as the acquaintance of its molecular biology. RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple kinase inhibitor drugs have become the standard therapy for thyroid cancer, albeit several adverse effects. In the last few years, new molecules have raised with an overall safety profile. Most of them, are considered targeted therapies directed toward driven-molecules alterations, such as neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor (NTRK) inhibitors for NTRK-fusion thyroid cancer and rearranged during transfection (RET) inhibitors for RET-fusion thyroid cancer. Recently, promising outcomes and safety data have been presented. Furthermore, other novel strategies for advanced thyroid carcinoma are currently investigated in clinical trials.The ability to provide precision medicine to patients in routine clinical settings depends on the availability of molecular profiling test at their cancer centers. The impossibility to perform molecular characterization could turn out to be a diagnostic and treatment limitation for some patients. SUMMARY: The treatment of advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma has undergone rapid evolution in the last decade. An emerging treatment era is coming. From now to then, we will need to face the different types of diagnostic tools for molecular characterization, their interpretation and, finally the access to targeted therapies.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We review the new systemic treatment strategies for differentiated thyroid carcinoma, as well as the acquaintance of its molecular biology. RECENT FINDINGS: Multiple kinase inhibitor drugs have become the standard therapy for thyroid cancer, albeit several adverse effects. In the last few years, new molecules have raised with an overall safety profile. Most of them, are considered targeted therapies directed toward driven-molecules alterations, such as neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor (NTRK) inhibitors for NTRK-fusion thyroid cancer and rearranged during transfection (RET) inhibitors for RET-fusion thyroid cancer. Recently, promising outcomes and safety data have been presented. Furthermore, other novel strategies for advanced thyroid carcinoma are currently investigated in clinical trials.The ability to provide precision medicine to patients in routine clinical settings depends on the availability of molecular profiling test at their cancer centers. The impossibility to perform molecular characterization could turn out to be a diagnostic and treatment limitation for some patients. SUMMARY: The treatment of advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma has undergone rapid evolution in the last decade. An emerging treatment era is coming. From now to then, we will need to face the different types of diagnostic tools for molecular characterization, their interpretation and, finally the access to targeted therapies.