Medullary Thyroid Cancer Clinical Trials 2023

What Are Medullary Thyroid Cancer Clinical Trials?

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a type of cancer that forms in the thyroid. The cancer starts due to the growth of abnormal cancer cells within the thyroid, known as the parafollicular C cells. Researchers do not know the exact causes of MTC. MTC itself is very rare but may occur in both children and adults.

According to the current body of research, the survival rate for patients with stages 1 and 3 for five years is 93% and 28% for stage 4. Survival rates may not be accurate because only a few MTC cases are diagnosed yearly. More medullary thyroid cancer clinical trials are needed to help researchers learn about accurate diagnostic tools and treatment methods.

Why Is Medullary Thyroid Cancer Being Studied Through Clinical Trials?

The causes of medullary thyroid cancer are unknown, requiring more extensive research. It is found that 25% of all patients have an inherited mutation in their RET gene, leading to MEN2A and M2EN2B. However, researchers need to find out how MTC develops in 75% of the patients. There is no risk factor for medullary thyroid cancer, but researchers have blamed specific mutations for causing the condition.

Medullary thyroid cancer clinical trials are also paving the way for improved diagnostics to help doctors identify the condition. Most patients with MTC will never know they have the disease until it comes to a doctor’s attention during a physical exam.

The most common route for treating MTC is the removal of the thyroid. However, once the disease progresses to the lymph nodes, it is unlikely that the patient will be treated. Since doctors don’t know what causes MTC, prevention is not possible.

What Are The Types of Treatments Available For Medullary Thyroid Cancer?

After diagnosing MTC, doctors may recommend various treatments, including surgery to remove the entire thyroid gland. After surgery, the patient may be required to take thyroid hormone replacement medications for the remainder of their life. Alternatives to surgery include radiation therapy and chemotherapy to kill cancer cells.

Targeted therapies that work on changes in DNA may also work on treating some cases of MTC. Doctors will monitor the patient's CEA and calcitonin levels to see whether the treatment works. In most cases, catching MTC early is important for treating it before it spreads to other parts of the body.

What Are Some Recent Breakthrough Clinical Trials For Medullary Thyroid Cancer?

2011 - Vandetanib in patients with medullary thyroid cancer: This phase II clinical study studies the use of Vandetanib in patients with MTC. Patients were given 300 mg/d of vandetanib for 24 months. Statistically significant advantages for the drug observed.

2013 - Cabozantinib in progressive medullary thyroid cancer: This clinical study investigates the use of Cabozantinib for treating MTC in patients. A total of 330 patients were randomly assigned to groups that took 140 mg per day of cabozantinib and a placebo. It was found that Cabozantinib resulted in significantly improved PFS in patients with MTC.