• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.78-81
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• 2018

Lenvatinib, an oral multi-kinase inhibitor, is a valuable treatment option for advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma. However, severe treatment-related adverse events occur up to 30% of the patients receiving lenvatinib, making it a challenge for clinicians to maintain this drug and therefore affecting the outcome of therapy. Blood vessel related events, such as hypertension or proteinuria, are among the most frequent adverse events. We present a case of 65-year-old man with radioactive iodine refractory papillary thyroid carcinoma with cervical lymph node metastasis and tracheal invasion receiving lenvatinib who developed proteinuria and worsening of hypertension. Management with repeated dose reductions and using supportive medications allowed this patient to continue lenvatinib with his disease stably controlled. Early detection of patients at risk for these adverse events and cautious administration of lenvatinib at appropriate level are crucial in managing patients receiving lenvatinib.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2018

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are widely used for the treatment of advanced radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer. Although the previous studies including large-scale randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the effects of TKIs in advanced thyroid cancers, it has been found that most patients experienced adverse events (AEs). Unlike other cancers, even patients with advanced thyroid cancers are often asymptomatic. Rather, TKI use can make patients suffer adverse events. Therefore, the use of TKI should be decided after the full consideration of AEs as well as its efficacies. While using TKI, AEs should be monitored, evaluated, and managed appropriately, if AEs develop. In this review, the occurrence, evaluation, and management of AEs of sorafenib, lenvatinib, and vandetanib will be described, which TKIs are most commonly used for the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer. Some suggestions for the management of AEs in the real life are also provided.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.19-25
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• 2019

Background/Objectives: Although anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is rare, it is one of the deadliest forms of thyroid cancer. The fatality rate for ATC is high, and the survival rate at one year after diagnosis is <20%. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor activities of paclitaxel, radiation, and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combined therapy in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo and explore its effects on apoptotic cell death pathways. Materials & Methods: ATC cell line was exposed to TKI, lenvatinib in the presence or absence of paclitaxel with radiation, and cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Effects of the combined treatment on cell cycle and intracellular signaling pathways were assessed by flow cytometry and western blot analysis. The ATC cell line xenograft model was used to examine the anti-tumor activity in vivo. Results: Our data revealed that the combined administration of paclitaxel, TKI, and radiation decreased cell viability in ATC cells, and also significantly increased apoptotic cell death in these cells, as demonstrated by the cleavage of caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation. This combination therapy reduced anti-apoptotic factor levels in ATC cells, while significantly decreasing tumor volume and increasing survival in ATC xenografts. Conclusion: These results indicate that administering the combination of paclitaxel, TKI, and radiation therapy may exert significant anticancer effects in preclinical models, potentially suggesting a new clinical approach for treating patients with ATC.

• International journal of thyroidology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.71-74
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• 2018

Adverse events such as hemoptysis and gastrointestinal hemorrhage during tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment are relatively rare, but the severity of the bleeding can be higher than other common adverse events. It is necessary to educate patients about its possibility so that they can be found early. In this case report of radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer patient, hemoptysis and gastrointestinal bleeding has occurred following lenvatinib administration. Drug interruption and dose modification and dose interruption were required in addition to management for bleeding itself. It is necessary to confirm the high risk of bleeding before the administration of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and to appropriately control the follow-up interval and drug dosage accordingly.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

Thyroid cancer is one of the slow-growing tumors with excellent oncological outcomes. However, a small set of patients with unexpectedly severe outcomes are usually ignored. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) remains one of the most aggressive and lethal solid tumors. Recently, dabrafenib and trametinib combination therapy or neoadjuvant BRAF induction therapy has shown promising results. In addition, a combination of targeted drugs, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy can improve overall survival in ATC patients. Another disease for which there is no breakthrough treatment is radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). To date, multikinase inhibitors (sorafenib, lenvatinib) targeting the growth factor signaling pathway have been developed and approved as anticancer agents for patients with advanced DTC. This review includes results from multikinase inhibitors to the emergence of new target molecules, including rearrangements during transformation (RET) and tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK).

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Thyroid cancer refers to various cancers arising from thyroid gland. Differentiated thyroid cancers (DTCs) include papillary, follicular, and Hurthle cell carcinomas and represent cancers retain normal thyroid functions such as iodine uptake. Radioactive iodine (RAI) is generally used for upfront treatment of metastatic DTCs, but RAI refractory DTCs remain to be clinical challenges. Sorafenib and lenvatinib were approved for the treatment of RAI refractory DTCs and more recently, genomics-based targeted therapies have been developed for NTRK and RET gene fusion-positive DTCs. Poorly differentiated and anaplastic thyroid cancers (ATCs) are extremely challenging diseases with aggressive courses. BRAF/MEK inhibition has been proven to be highly effective in BRAF V600E mutation-positive ATCs and immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promising activities. Medullary thyroid cancers, which arise from parafollicular cells of thyroid, represent a unique subset of thyroid cancer and mainly driven by RET mutation. In addition to vandetanib and cabozantinib, highly specific RET inhibitors such as selpercatinib and pralsetinib have demonstrated impressive activity and are in clinical use.