Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: current trends and future perspectives

Authors

  • Miguel F. Valente Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto
  • João Capela-Costa Hospital de São João

Abstract

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is a rare neoplasm (constituting about 2% of thyroid tumors) but highly lethal. Despite recent advances in the management of the disease and the establishment of multimodal treatments, the results continue to be bleak with the median survival of around 5-6 months after diagnosis. The search for new methods to earlier diagnosis as well as for new therapeutic targets both effective and safe is the key to improve the prognosis of these patients. The last decade has brought us important discoveries, especially in understanding the molecular mechanisms of tumor dedifferentiation, representing good potential to increase the sensitivity of diagnostics tests and find new drugs. The latest options in molecular treatment are kinase inhibitors, anti-angiogenic drugs, proteasome inhibitors and epigenetic drugs (histone deacetylase inhibitors and demethylating agents). The results of some phase II studies are promising. This paper reviews the diagnostic and therapeutic tools currently used and presents some of the latest discoveries in the treatment of patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

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Author Biographies

Miguel F. Valente, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto

Mestre em Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto

João Capela-Costa, Hospital de São João

Mestre em Medicina Molecular, Serviço de Cirurgia Geral do Hospital de São João

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Published

2017-10-10

Issue

No. 41 (2017): Number 41 - June 2017

Section

Review Article

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