scholarly journals Potentiated anti-tumor effects of BETi by MEKi in anaplastic thyroid cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 739-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuguang Zhu ◽  
Sunmi Park ◽  
Woo Kyung Lee ◽  
Sheue-yann Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Mek Inhibitor ◽  
Epigenetic Modifications ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Inhibition Of Proliferation ◽  
Novel Treatment

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is an aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options. We explored novel treatment modalities by targeting epigenetic modifications using inhibitors of BET (e.g. BRD4) activity. We evaluated the efficacy in the treatment of ATC of a novel BET inhibitor, PLX51107 (PLX), currently in clinical trials for other solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, alone or combined with a MEK inhibitor, PD0325901(PD). To elucidate the effects of these inhibitors on growth of ATC, we treated ATC cells derived from patient tumors (THJ-11T and THJ-16T cells) and mouse xenograft tumors with inhibitors. We found PLX and PD inhibitors singly inhibited proliferation of both human ATC cells lines, but together exhibited stronger inhibition of proliferation. In mouse xenografts, the combination treatment almost totally blocked growth in xenograft tumors derived from both ATC cells. PD effectively attenuated MEK-ERK signaling, which was further enhanced by PLX in the combined treatment in cultured cells and tumors. Importantly, the combination of PLX and PD acted synergistically to suppress MYC transcription to increase p27 in decreasing tumor cell proliferation. PLX and PD cooperated to upregulate pro-apoptotic proteins to promote apoptosis. These two inhibitors converged to reduce the binding of BRD4 to the MYC promoter to suppress the MYC expression. These findings indicate that combined treatment of BET and MEK-ERK inhibitors was more effective to treat ATC than single targeted treatment. Synergistic suppression of MYC transcription via collaborative actions on chromatin modifications suggested that targeting epigenetic modifications could provide novel treatment opportunities for ATC.

scholarly journals Updates on the Management of Thyroid Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (08) ◽  
pp. 562-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine A. Araque ◽  
Sriram Gubbi ◽  
Joanna Klubo-Gwiezdzinska
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Braf V600e ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
American Thyroid Association ◽  
Novel Treatment ◽  
High Risk Disease ◽  
Diagnostic Modalities

AbstractThe diagnostic modalities, stratification tools, and treatment options for patients with thyroid cancer have rapidly evolved since the development of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines in 2015. This review compiles newer concepts in diagnosis, stratification tools and treatment options for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). Newer developments apply precision medicine in thyroid cancer patients to avoid over-treatment in low risk disease and under-treatment in high risk disease. Among novel patient-tailored therapies are selective RET inhibitors that have shown efficacy in the treatment of MTC with limited systemic toxicity compared with non-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors have revolutionized management of BRAF V600E mutant ATC. Several immunotherapeutic agents are being actively investigated in the treatment of all forms of thyroid cancer. In this review, we describe the recent advances in the diagnosis and management of DTC, MTC, and ATC, with an emphasis on novel treatment modalities.

Novel treatment options for anaplastic thyroid cancer

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poupak Fallahi ◽  
Ilaria Ruffilli ◽  
Giusy Elia ◽  
Francesca Ragusa ◽  
Salvatore Ulisse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Novel Treatment

Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geeta Lal
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Braf Inhibitor ◽  
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Mek Inhibitor ◽  
Braf V600e ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy ◽  
Current State ◽  
Targeted Treatments

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare thyroid malignancy with a nearly uniform poor prognosis. Most patients present with advanced disease, and optimal management requires rapid diagnosis, staging, and involvement of multidisciplinary teams. Treatment may include surgery in patients with resectable disease and adjuvant or neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Improved understanding of molecular pathogenesis has allowed the assessment of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and other targeted treatments in these patients.  The FDA recently approved the combination of dabrafenib (BRAF inhibitor) and trametinib (MEK inhibitor) for the treatment of BRAF V600E mutation positive, unresectable or metastatic ATC. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art concepts in the management of patients with ATC. This review contains 3 figures, 2 tables, and 25 references. Key words: anaplastic thyroid cancer, goals of care discussion, management, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy novel therapies, NCCN and ATA guidelines

scholarly journals Salutary Response to Targeted Therapy in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 232470961989094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasan Fazeli ◽  
Edina Paal ◽  
Jessica H. Maxwell ◽  
Kenneth D. Burman ◽  
Eric S. Nylen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Targeted Therapy ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
Braf Inhibitor ◽  
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Mek Inhibitor ◽  
Braf V600e ◽  
Aggressive Tumor ◽  
Well Differentiated

Context. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is an aggressive tumor with a median survival of 3 to 9 months, a 1-year survival of less than 10% and without definitive therapies. Recently, in BRAF V600E mutated ATCs, new targeted therapy using a combination of a BRAF inhibitor, dabrafenib (Dab), with a mitogen-activated extracellular protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor, trametinib (Tram), has shown significant promise. Case Description. We report a case of aggressive ATC with 5 sequence mutations: BRAF V600E (mutation fraction [MF] 34%), TERT E441del (MF 37%), RET N579K (MF 55%), EZH2 D154E (MF 60%), and CDK4 S259L (MF 48%). The patient had a dramatic response to the Dab/Tram combination with near complete resolution of his lung, bone, hepatic, and splenic lesions soon after starting therapy. Unfortunately, intolerable side effects (grade 2-3) on this regimen required tapering and discontinuation of the treatment. He had a quick resurgence of disease after stopping the combination therapy. The patient died approximately 3 months after discontinuing Dab/Tram. Autopsy revealed an atrophic thyroid gland with microscopic subcapsular focus of well-differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma. There was extensive lymphatic spread of the tumor throughout bilateral lungs with fibrosis. No other metastatic site was identified. Conclusion. We report a unique case of ATC with 2 new mutations of EZH2 D154E and CDK S529L. This case exemplifies the significant promise Dab/Tram therapy holds, the potential side effects that limit their use, and autopsy findings status post use of this combination therapy.

scholarly journals Recent advances in the management of anaplastic thyroid cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone De Leo ◽  
Matteo Trevisan ◽  
Laura Fugazzola
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase ◽  
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Genetic Profile ◽  
Mutational Status ◽  
Single Target

AbstractAnaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is undoubtedly the thyroid cancer histotype with the poorest prognosis. The conventional treatment includes surgery, radiotherapy, and conventional chemotherapy. Surgery should be as complete as possible, securing the airway and ensuring access for nutritional support; the current standard of care of radiotherapy is the intensity-modulated radiation therapy; chemotherapy includes the use of doxorubicin or taxanes (paclitaxel or docetaxel) generally with platin (cisplatin or carboplatin). However, frequently, these treatments are not sufficient and a systemic treatment with kinase inhibitors is necessary. These include multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Lenvatinib, Sorafenib, Sunitinib, Vandetanib, Axitinib, Pazopanib, Pyrazolo-pyrimidine compounds), single target tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Dabrafenib plus Trametinib and Vemurafenib against BRAF, Gefitinib against EGFR, PPARγ ligands (e.g. Efatutazone), Everolimus against mTOR, vascular disruptors (e.g. Fosbretabulin), and immunotherapy (e.g. Spartalizumab and Pembrolizumab, which are anti PD-1/PD-L1 molecules). Therapy should be tailored to the patients and to the tumor genetic profile. A BRAF mutation analysis is mandatory, but a wider evaluation of tumor mutational status (e.g. by next-generation sequencing) is desirable. When a BRAFV600E mutation is detected, treatment with Dabrafenib and Trametinib should be preferred: this combination has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic ATC with BRAFV600E mutation and with no satisfactory locoregional treatment options. Alternatively, Lenvatinib, regardless of mutational status, reported good results and was approved in Japan for treating unresectable tumors. Other single target mutation agents with fair results are Everolimus when a mutation involving the PI3K/mTOR pathway is detected, Imatinib in case of PDGF-receptors overexpression, and Spartalizumab in case of PD-L1 positive tumors. Several trials are currently evaluating the possible beneficial role of a combinatorial therapy in ATC. Since in this tumor several genetic alterations are usually found, the aim is to inhibit or disrupt several pathways: these combination strategies use therapy targeting angiogenesis, survival, proliferation, and may act against both MAPK and PI3K pathways. Investigating new treatment options is eagerly awaited since, to date, even the molecules with the best radiological results have not been able to provide a durable disease control.

scholarly journals An Update of the Appropriate Treatment Strategies in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer: A Population-Based Study of 735 Patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nai-si Huang ◽  
Xiao Shi ◽  
Bo-wen Lei ◽  
Wen-jun Wei ◽  
Zhong-wu Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Distant Metastasis ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Locally Advanced ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Adjacent Structures

Background. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) responds poorly to conventional therapies and requires a multidisciplinary approach to manage. The aim of the current study is to explore whether aggressive treatment is beneficial, especially the appropriate extent of surgery in ATC. Methods. Patients diagnosed with ATC from 2004 to 2014 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and included in our study. Results. A total of 735 ATC patients were identified. The two-year overall survival (OS) rates for stage IVA, IVB, and IVC patients were 36.5%, 15.6%, and 1.4%, respectively. By directly comparing eight treatment modalities, we found that surgery+radiotherapy RT±chemotherapy was the most effective treatment strategy. surgery+chemotherapy and RT+chemotherapy had comparable results (hazard ratio HR=1.461, 95% confidential interval (CI): 0.843-2.531, P=0.177). Multivariate Cox regression analysis also showed increased mortality risk in patients with increased age (HR=1.022, P<0.001), tumor extension to adjacent structures (HR=1.649, P=0.013), and distant metastasis (HR=2.041, P<0.001), while surgery+RT (HR=0.600, P=0.004) and chemotherapy (HR=0.692, P=0.010) were independently associated with improved OS. Further analysis revealed that patients undergoing total/near-total thyroidectomy (TT) had superior OS to those receiving less than TT (P<0.001). In subgroup analysis, the benefit of TT remained significant in patients with tumors larger than 4.0 cm (HR=0.776, 95% CI: 0.469-0.887, P=0.007), with adjacent structure extension (HR=0.642, 95% CI: 0.472-0.877, P=0.005), including trachea and major vessels, but not in patients with early phase local disease such as tumor≤4.0 cm or tumor within the thyroid or with minimal extrathyroidal extension. Patients with very locally advanced disease or distant metastasis could not benefit from TT as well. Conclusions. In operable cases, surgery+RT±chemotherapy was the optimal treatment modality. Otherwise, RT+chemotherapy was the appropriate strategy. However, TT was not beneficial for very early stage or metastatic ATC.

Efficacy of dabrafenib (D) and trametinib (T) in patients (pts) with BRAF V600E–mutated anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC).

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 6023-6023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek Subbiah ◽  
Robert J. Kreitman ◽  
Zev A. Wainberg ◽  
Jae Yong Cho ◽  
Jan H.M. Schellens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metastatic Cancer ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Braf Inhibitor ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Credible Interval ◽  
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Mek Inhibitor ◽  
Braf V600e ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Dismal Prognosis

6023 Background: ATC is a rare, aggressive malignancy with a dismal prognosis. Median overall survival (OS) is < 6 mo. Combined BRAF and MEK inhibition is efficacious in BRAF V600–mutated melanoma and lung cancer. One-fourth of ATCs harbor activating BRAF V600E mutations; thus, D (BRAF inhibitor) + T (MEK inhibitor) was evaluated as a treatment for pts with BRAF V600E–mutated ATC. Methods: In this phase 2, open-label trial (NCT02034110), pts with BRAF V600E mutations in 9 rare tumor types, including ATC, received continuous D (150 mg BID) + T (2 mg QD) until unacceptable toxicity, disease progression, or death. Eligible pts had advanced or metastatic cancer with no standard-of-care treatment options. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed overall response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), OS, and safety. We report data from the ATC cohort. Results: 16 pts with BRAF V600E–mutated ATC had evaluable data with a median follow-up time of 47 wk (range 4-120 wk). BRAF V600E mutations were centrally confirmed in 15/16 pts. Median age was 72 y; all 16 pts had undergone prior tumor radiation and/or surgery and 6/16 pts (38%) had received ≥1 prior line of systemic therapy. Investigator-assessed confirmed ORR was 69% (11/16; 95% CI, 41%-89%), with 7/11 responses ongoing at the time of data cut. The Bayesian estimate of ORR was 69% (95% credible interval, 47%-87%) with a 100% probability that this ORR exceeded the 15% historical RR. Median DOR, PFS, and OS were not estimable due to insufficient progression and death events. Kaplan-Meier estimates of DOR, PFS, and OS at 12 mo were 90%, 79%, and 80%, respectively. The safety population comprised 100 pts enrolled in 7/9 histologies. Among all pts, 92% had an AE. Common AEs of any grade for all histologies were fatigue (38%), pyrexia (37%), and nausea (35%). In the ATC cohort, the most common grade 3/4 events were hyponatremia (19%), pneumonia (13%), and anemia (13%). Conclusions: D+T combination therapy significantly improved outcomes in ATC with a favorable safety profile. This regimen represents a clinically meaningful therapeutic advance for pts with advanced/metastatic BRAF V600–mutated ATC. Clinical trial information: NCT02034110.

Phase II trial of ribociclib and everolimus in p16 low anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC).

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. TPS6098-TPS6098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Tawfik ◽  
David E. Gerber ◽  
Barbara Burtness ◽  
Randall S. Hughes ◽  
Larry L. Myers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Cycle Progression ◽  
Differentiated Thyroid Cancers

TPS6098 Background: ATC is a rare thyroid cancer with a highly aggressive clinical course. Median OS is 3-4 months and 90% of patients die within 1 year of the diagnosis. There are no effective treatment options in metastatic disease. Targeted therapies to ALK and BRAF are occasionally associated with dramatic responses. Retinoblastoma (Rb) inhibits cell cycle progression and is inactivated by CDK 4/6, which is the target for ribociclib. Nearly all differentiated thyroid cancers are Rb negative, conversely nearly 100% of ATC expresses intact Rb which may be crucial for rapid cell cycle progression. Ribociclib is a CDK 4/6 inhibitors that slows cell cycle progression and DNA replication in tumors with functional Rb. The p16 protein similarly inhibits CDK4/6; if p16 levels are high Rb is phosphorylated and thus inactive. p16 is low in ATC, and from our comprehensive genomic analysis 30% of ATC lacks the p16 gene CDKN2a. Most ATC demonstrates PI3K/Akt/mTOR abnormalities, this pathway represents an attractive target in ATC. The mTOR inhibitor everolimus has shown promising efficacy in ATC cell lines, especially in those with TSC2 mutation whose wild type negatively regulates mTOR. Methods: The combination of everolimus and ribociclib targets mutations/abnormalities that are frequently seen in ATC, and is tolerable based on Phase I/II trial results in the latest arm of the biomarker/oncogene driven ATC Master Protocol . This open-label trial treats metastatic Rb+ ATC patients with p16-/ CDKN2a-. Treatment is ribociclib 400 mg + everolimus 5 mg QD. The primary endpoint is the overall response rate; secondary endpoints are PFS, OS, safety and toxicity. Exploratory objectives include if tissue biomarkers or mutations noted on Next Generation Sequencing correlate for enhanced/impaired response to combination therapy. Simon's two-stage design will be used with the null hypothesis that the true response rate is 5%, this will be tested against a one-sided alternative. In the first stage, 9 patients will be accrued. If no response in these 9 patients, the study will be stopped. Otherwise, 21 additional patients will be accrued for a total of 30. Clinical trial information: NCT02289144.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer: A report of six consecutive cases treated successfully with nab-paclitaxel.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e17586-e17586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Travers ◽  
Eleanor Cronin ◽  
Mira Marinova ◽  
Peter Smith ◽  
Andrew Peter Dean
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Primary Tumour ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Phase 2 Trial ◽  
Local Disease ◽  
Radiological Response ◽  
Number Of Cycles

e17586 Background: Advanced anaplastic thyroid cancer is a disease with very few treatment options. Poor response rates have been reported with cisplatin / doxorubicin and modest response noted in a single phase 2 trial with 24 hour paclitaxel infusion. The 50% response rate has not been reproduced by other investigators but raises questions about the possible utility of taxanes. Although paclitaxel is not approved for this indication in Australia, nab-Paclitaxel is available on a compassionate access scheme. We report 6 consecutive cases treated with nab-paclitaxel (as an alternative to paclitaxel infusion) who all exhibited a response to treatment. Methods: 6 consecutive patients with histologically proven advanced anaplastic thyroid cancer were assessed and imaged to document extent of disease. They were all treated with nab-paclitaxel 100mg/M2 given weekly either continuously or for 3 weeks out of every 4. Clinical and radiological response to treatment was documented. Results: The number of cycles given ranged from 3 to 8. Two patients required dose reductions due to neuropathy. Of the 6 patients; 5 had measurable metastatic disease and 5 had measurable local disease. Four patients showed clinical response to treatment with shrinkage of measurable local disease. One patient showed response to treatment with shrinkage of the primary tumour. Three patients with stridor developed considerable relief from this distressing symptom. Three patients with inoperable disease subsequently became operable and were resected to obtain local disease control. One patient with no evaluable disease after resection (Stage 4B) who received adjuvant nab-paclitaxel remains free of recurrence at 4 years. Conclusions: Anaplastic thyroid cancer is generally regarded as malignancy untreatable by chemotherapy. Our pilot series suggests nab-Paclitaxel warrants further evaluation and should be considered as a chemotherapy backline for combination with targeted agents.

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