Advancements in Targeted Therapies: New Hope for Advanced Thyroid Cancer Patients

Advancing Hope: Targeted Drugs Transforming Treatment for Advanced Thyroid Cancer with Dr. Fabián Pitoia.
In this insightful interview with Dr. Fabian Pitoia from Argentina, the focus is on the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer using targeted drugs known as multikinase inhibitors, such as Lenvatinib (Lenvima), sorafenib (Nexavar), and cabozantinib (Cabometyx). Dr. Pitoia highlights that these drugs work by blocking several different kinase proteins and function in two main ways: inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow.
The interview discusses three groups of advanced thyroid cancer: medullary thyroid cancer, Rio Island refractory thyroid cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer. Dr. Pitoia emphasizes the availability of new therapeutic options for each group. For medullary thyroid cancer, drugs like Lenvatinib and cabozantinib have shown promising results, while for Rio Island refractory thyroid cancer, specific gene alterations can now be targeted with drugs like sorafenib and lenvatinib, boasting impressive overall response rates and prolonged progression-free survival.
The most significant breakthrough comes in treating anaplastic thyroid cancer, which previously had poor prognosis and limited treatment options. However, the combination of drugs like trametinib and dabrafenib has shown exceptional results in patients harboring the B-raf mutation, offering newfound hope and potentially complete responses.
Dr. Pitoia highlights that advanced thyroid cancer, though relatively rare, can affect around 10% of papillary thyroid cancer cases, 20% of medullary thyroid cancer cases, and is common in anaplastic thyroid cancer. He emphasizes that specialized treatment centers are crucial for managing advanced thyroid cancer effectively.
Overall, the interview underscores the evolving landscape of thyroid cancer treatment, the advancements in targeted therapies, and the significant improvement in patient outcomes, instilling optimism and hope for patients facing more serious forms of thyroid cancer.