title: Aggressive thyroid cancer: targeted therapy with sorafenib.
abstract: Sorafenib (Nexavar), is a multikinase inhibitor, which has demonstrated both antiproliferative and antiangiogenic properties in vitro and in vivo, inhibiting the activity of targets present in the tumoral cells (c-RAF [proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase], BRAF, (V600E)BRAF, c-KIT, and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3) and in tumor vessels (c-RAF, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor [VEGFR]-2, VEGFR-3, and platelet-derived growth factor receptor β). Sorafenib was initially approved for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and advanced renal cell carcinoma. Experimental studies have demonstrated that sorafenib has both antiproliferative and antiangiogenic properties in vitro and in vivo, against thyroid cancer cells. Furthermore, several completed (or ongoing) studies have evaluated the long-term efficacy and tolerability of sorafenib in patients with papillary, follicular and medullary aggressive thyroid cancer. The results of the different studies showed good clinical responses and stabilization of the disease and suggested that sorafenib is a promising therapeutic option in patients with advanced thyroid cancer that is not responsive to traditional therapeutic strategies (such as radioiodine). Currently, USA Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of sorafenib for metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Alda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corrado
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Politti
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and of New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miccoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Materazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy - alessandro.antonelli@med.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, &quot;Sapienza&quot; University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulisse
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Poupak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fallahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miccoli
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D000077157:Sorafenib; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib