An update on clinical trials of targeted therapies in thyroid cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Several new targeted therapies with multikinase inhibitors targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), rearranged during transfection and v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 pathways have been tested in clinical trials for radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) in the past 10 years.


RESULTS
Results of the first phase III trial of VEGF-targeted therapy (sorafenib) in DTC were presented in June 2013, and two phase III trials with VEGF and rearranged during transfection-targeted therapies (vandetanib and cabozantinib) in MTC have led to approval by US Food and Drug Administration in the past 2 years. Whereas such therapies increase median progression-free survival compared to placebo, there is no therapy proven to improve overall survival yet. Significant potential adverse event risks associated with such therapies need to be recognized. Dissemination of knowledge about targeted therapies is critical for various medical specialists as patient care for thyroid cancers is best delivered in a multidisciplinary setting.


CONCLUSIONS
Successful development of targeted systemic therapies in DTC and MTC in the past 5 years is incredibly exciting in the field and patients with advanced DTC/MTC now have new standard-of-care therapy options.
The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Sigurdis
S
Haraldsdottir
Manisha H
MH
Shah
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors