Current and future immunotherapies for thyroid cancer. Issue 2 (1st February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Antonelli, Alessandro; Ferrari, Silvia Martina; Fallahi, Poupak
• Is Part Of: Expert review of anticancer therapy. Volume 18:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 149
• Page End: 159
• Publication Date: 2018-02-01
• Subjects: Cancer -- immunotherapies -- immune checkpoint inhibitors -- ipilimumab -- nivolumab -- thyroid cancer -- papillary thyroid cancer -- follicular thyroid cancer -- medullary thyroid cancer -- anaplastic thyroid cancer; Cancer -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 616.99406
• DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2018.1417845
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-7140

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction : Cancer immunotherapies were approved in recent years, including immune checkpoint inhibitors. Experience with ipilimumab (CTLA-4 antagonist), nivolumab and pembrolizumab (PD-1 antagonists), and atezolizumab (PD-L1 antagonist) has shown that the impact on overall survival in cancer patients is paramount. Immune checkpoint inhibitors target the immune system and they can be applied across multiple cancers; the response rate is ranging from 20 to 40%. Many studies have shown that thyroid cancer (TC) cells produce cytokines and chemokines, inducing several tumor-promoting effects. Targeting and/or lowering cytokines and chemokines concentrations within the tumor microenvironment would produce a therapeutic benefit. In TC, increased Treg and PD-1 + T cell frequencies are indicative of aggressive disease and PD-L1 expression correlates with a greater risk of recurrence. Area covered : After performing a literature search, a few pioneering studies have evaluated immunotherapy in thyroid cancer. More recently a case has been described involving anaplastic thyroid cancer treated with vemurafenib and nivolumab, with substantial regression and complete radiographic and clinical remission. Expert commentary : The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in aggressive TC has not yet been extensively investigated and further studies in a large number of TC patients are urgently needed.