Targeted therapies in thyroid cancer.
Differentiated thyroid carcinoma is the most frequent neoplasm of the endocrine system. Although thyroid cancer usually has an excellent prognosis, no therapeutic options are available for patients that develop metastases and are or became resistant to radioiodine therapy. The deeper knowledge of molecular aberrations that characterize tumor growth has provided novel targets in cancer therapy. Several proteins have been implicated as having a crucial role in the carcinogenesis of differentiated thyroid cancer, such as those involved in RET/PTC-RAS-RAF-MAPK pathway. Moreover, vascular aberrations and angiogenesis equilibrium have also been related to tumor growth. The development of new, targeted therapies and their encouraging initial results have opened a hopeful opportunity of treatment for these orphan therapy tumor patients.
Capdevila
Jaume
J
Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, P. Vall d'Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain.
Perez-Garcia
Jose
J
Obiols
Gabriel
G
Tabernero
Josep
J
D000818:Animals; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D015195:Drug Design; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret