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Targeted therapies in thyroid cancer

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Abstract

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.

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No funds were received in support of this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Oncology Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, P. Vall d’Hebron 119-129, 08035, Barcelona, Spain

    Jaume Capdevila, Jose Perez-Garcia & Josep Tabernero

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain

    Gabriel Obiols

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  1. Jaume Capdevila
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  2. Jose Perez-Garcia
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  3. Gabriel Obiols
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Correspondence to Josep Tabernero.

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Capdevila, J., Perez-Garcia, J., Obiols, G. et al. Targeted therapies in thyroid cancer. Targ Oncol 4, 275–285 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11523-009-0124-y

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