While most thyroid cancers progress slowly and can be curable when detected early, anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) poses a significant challenge. This rare and highly aggressive tumour is associated with a poor prognosis, making effective treatment crucial. However, recent findings from a clinical trial conducted at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center provide new hope for patients suffering from a specific subtype of ATC.
The clinical trial explored a combination of cancer immunotherapy and targeted treatments aimed at a particular genetic mutation present in some ATC tumour cells. This innovative approach appears to improve survival rates among patients with this aggressive form of cancer. “Patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma need treatments that work fast, and we saw promising results with this combination treatment approach,” stated Dr Maria Cabanillas, the lead investigator and a professor specializing in endocrine neoplasia and hormonal disorders.
The findings were published on October 24 in the journal JAMA Oncology. According to the researchers, ATC tumours can exhibit significant genetic variation between patients, with each subtype harbouring distinct driver mutations that affect tumour behaviour and progression. Approximately 40 per cent of ATC tumours have mutations in the BRAF gene, which significantly influences the cancer's prognosis and characteristics.
The trial specifically focused on 42 patients with BRAF-mutated ATC. Eighteen of .
