Combined Treatment Method may Improve Survival in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Patients with Metastasis: Study

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy which poses significant challenges in treatment and prognosis, specially in the cases with distant metastasis (DM). However, a recent study by Hongen Guo and team indicate that a combination of treatment strategies could enhance the survival rates for patients with this disease. The key findings of this study were published in the recent edition of BMC Surgery.

The study was based on a retrospective analysis of data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database that focused on anaplastic thyroid cancer patients with distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis. The results from the analysis included a total of 315 anaplastic thyroid cancer patients with distant metastasis and highlighted the key factors influencing survival. Surgical intervention targeting the primary tumor, along with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and the presence of lung metastasis was found to be the significant determinants of prognosis.

The patients who underwent a combination of treatment modalities like the surgery paired with chemotherapy or surgery combined with chemoradiation, expressed markedly improved survival outcomes when compared to the individuals who received only a single form of therapy.

These findings underscore the potential benefits of adopting a multifaceted approach to treating anaplastic thyroid cancer, particularly in cases where the distant metastasis is present. While the results offer promising insights into enhancing treatment efficacy, the outcomes emphasized the need for larger sample cohorts to validate these findings comprehensively.

The outcomes of this research signifies a major step forward in the fight against anaplastic thyroid cancer that offers hope for enhanced treatment strategies and improved survival rates for patients with this rare and aggressive malignancy.

Reference:

Guo, H., & Lin, H. (2024). The value of multimodal treatment in anaplastic thyroid cancer patients with distant metastasis. In BMC Surgery (Vol. 24, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-024-02375-6