According to a story from news-medical.net, a team of researchers from the University of Colorado recently completed a study that assessed the genetics of thyroid cancer patients, drawing from a data sample that involved hundreds of patients with either anaplastic thyroid cancer or advanced differentiated thyroid cancer. The study identified several genetic indicators that could be potential treatment targets. The data also suggested that immunotherapies could be a viable treatment route for many of the most dangerous types of thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer is any type of cancer that affects the tissues of the thyroid gland. It is also possible for cancer that begins in other areas of the body to spread to the thyroid. There are several potential risk factors for thyroid cancer, such as having an enlarged thyroid, a family history of the disease, or exposure to high levels of radiation at a young age. The most diagnostic symptom of thyroid cancer is a nodule or lump that appears on the gland. Pain in the neck and vocal changes are also possible. There are several types of thyroid cancer that vary in their severity. Current treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, targeted therapies, and thyroid hormone. Five year survival rates are 98 percent in the U.S. To learn more about thyroid cancer, click here.

The most interesting finding from the study was that in multiple samples of anaplastic and advanced differentiated thyroid cancer, the normal mechanism that allow for the repair of DNA was not functioning. This is a significant vulnerability for these cancers, as they are likely to have a greater number of genetic alternations. This fact led the researchers to recommend that immunotherapy should be a part of treatment for these types. Despite the overall high survival rates for thyroid cancer, these types are notoriously unresponsive to treatment and can be very deadly.

The study made sure to target these extremely rare, advanced types of thyroid cancer that are tough to treat, as most others respond to conventional treatment very well and so there is less need to research the genetic nature of them. The study also found a connection between anaplastic cancer and receptor tyrosine kinases, a mechanism that many cancers use to grow rapidly. This led the researchers to also recommend the drug lenvatinib, which targets these receptors. Hopefully, these recommendations will help improve outcomes for patients with these deadly types of thyroid cancer.

What are your thoughts on these new recommendations? Share your stories, thoughts, and hopes, with the Patient Worthy community!