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Alternative Options and Future Directions for Thyroid Cancer Therapy

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Thyroid Cancer

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Abstract

The unique features of thyroid cells have enabled clinicians to specifically target therapy for patients with differentiated thyroid cancers. The retained expression and function of the thyrotropin (TSH) receptor and sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) in most thyroid cells have allowed the successful use of TSH-suppressive doses of levothyroxine (L-T4) and radioiodine. These targeted treatments, in combination with surgery, have led to long-term survival rates for patients with early stage thyroid cancers that approach 98% at 20 yr (1–4). However, this excellent prognosis is not shared by individuals with aggressive metastatic thyroid cancers, nor by those with malignancies that dedifferentiate and lose expression and function of the TSH receptor and NIS. Indeed, patients with these more aggressive thyroid cancers typically have a poor response to traditional therapies, resulting in a much higher incidence of cancer-related death. Alternative therapies using nontargeted cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents have been largely disappointing.

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  1. Divisions of Endocrinology and Oncology and Human Cancer Genetics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

    Matthew D. Ringel MD (Associate Professor of Medicine)

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  1. Matthew D. Ringel MD
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  1. Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC

    Leonard Wartofsky MD, MPH, MACP  & Douglas Van Nostrand MD, FACP, FACNP  & 

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Ringel, M.D. (2006). Alternative Options and Future Directions for Thyroid Cancer Therapy. In: Wartofsky, L., Van Nostrand, D. (eds) Thyroid Cancer. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-995-0_89

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-995-0_89

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-462-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-995-0

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