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Review
. 2024 Dec;20(6):681-689.
doi: 10.1111/ajco.14106. Epub 2024 Aug 15.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer: A review of recent evidence and summary of an Australian institutional protocol

Anna K Lawless  1   2 , Shejil Kumar  2   3 , Jessica Bindra  2   3 , Mark Sywak  2   4 , Angela Chou  2   5   6 , John Turchini  7   8 , Alexander Papachristos  2   4 , Ayanthi Wijewardene  2   9 , Stanley Sidhu  2   4 , Mahsa Ahadi  2   5   6 , Lyndal Tacon  3   9 , Anthony Glover  2   4 , Katherine Clark  2   10 , Venessa Tsang  2   3 , Leo Pang  2   11 , Roderick J Clifton-Bligh  2   3   9 , Bruce Robinson  2   3   9 , Anthony J Gill  2   5   6 , Alexander Guminski  2   12 , Thomas Eade  1   2 , Matti L Gild  2   3   9
Affiliations
Review

Anaplastic thyroid cancer: A review of recent evidence and summary of an Australian institutional protocol

Anna K Lawless et al. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2024 Dec.

Abstract

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), a rare and highly aggressive malignancy, is characterized by an exceptionally poor prognosis, where the majority of patients present with extensive local invasion and/or distant metastases. 20-30% of ATCs harbor the BRAF-V600E mutation. Neoadjuvant BRAF-targeted therapy may have the potential to downstage and facilitate surgical resection for patients with locally advanced and unresectable primary tumors with BRAF mutation and may convey a survival advantage in those with metastatic disease. There is emerging evidence to support the use of other targeted agents, including multikinase inhibitors, as well as the incorporation of immunotherapy into the treatment regimen. Rapid molecular and pathological diagnosis and expert multidisciplinary discussion at specialized treatment centers are critical to expedite investigations and initiate treatment for this complex and rapidly progressive disease.

Keywords: BRAF; anaplastic; neoadjuvant; thyroid cancer.

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References

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