Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: review of treatment protocols. Issue 3 (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tiedje, Vera; Stuschke, Martin; Weber, Frank; Dralle, Henning; Moss, Laura; Führer, Dagmar
• Is Part Of: Endocrine-related cancer. Volume 25:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: R153
• Page End: R161
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: anaplastic thyroid carcinoma -- treatment protocol -- radiotherapy -- targeted therapy; Endocrine glands -- Cancer -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Endocrine aspects -- Periodicals; 616.9944005
• DOI: 10.1530/ERC-17-0435
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0088

Abstract

Abstract : Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an orphan disease and in most patients fatal. So far no established treatment is available that prolongs survival. Several large retrospective studies have identified negative prognostic markers, analyzed efficacy of multimodal approaches such as radiotherapy with and without concurrent chemotherapy and chemotherapy protocols. Recently, single case reports have suggested some effectiveness of newer therapies targeting single somatic alterations in ATC. Overall, the conclusions that can be drawn from published retrospective studies and the scarce prospective approaches is that new treatment protocols should be developed including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy approaches and combinational therapy with immunotherapies. These protocols then need to be evaluated prospectively to improve ATC patients' outcome in routine care.