Prolonged duration of response in lenvatinib responders with thyroid cancer

Validation of a Lenvatinib Assay: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVES

Lenvatinib has demonstrated efficacy in improving progression-free and overall survival in patients with radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer. However, treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) frequently cause dose interruptions and suboptimal dosing, underscoring the importance of monitoring of lenvatinib levels. Currently, there is no validated lenvatinib assay for clinical use. We describe the development of a mass spectrometry assay for accurate quantification of lenvatinib, along with a pilot study reporting peak and trough levels.

DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS

A pilot prospective single-center study was conducted at Royal North Shore Hospital, to develop and validate an in-house high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay for measuring plasma lenvatinib levels in patients with radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer. Patient data including dosage, TRAEs, and disease progression were recorded.

RESULTS

Lenvatinib doses ranged between 4 mg to 14 mg daily. Trough and peak levels were measured in nine and eight patients respectively. Duration of treatment ranged from 7 to 63 months (mean 29 months), with treatment duration at the time of testing ranging from 1 to 14 months. Trough levels ranged from 4.60 to 30.53 µg/L (median 21.74 µg/L). Peak levels for patients receiving 10 mg (n = 3) ranged from 78.50 to 237.72 µg/L (median 129.56 µg/L), while those receiving 14 mg (n = 4) ranged from 65.10 to 263.64 µg/L (median 185.23 µg/L).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study describes the successful development of a novel LC-MS/MS assay for quantifying plasma lenvatinib levels. Despite consistent dosing, we observed considerable variability in levels in this group. Further research is required to examine the utility of lenvatinib drug monitoring in the setting of thyroid cancer.

Relationship Between Best Tumor Shrinkage and Progression-Free Survival and Overall Survival in Patients With Progressive Midgut Neuroendocrine Tumors Treated With [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE: Ad Hoc Analysis of the Phase III NETTER-1 Trial

BACKGROUND

In many solid tumors, early tumor shrinkage predicts the durability of treatment response. It is unclear whether this is the case for neuroendocrine tumors treated with peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT).

METHODS

Data from the phase III NETTER-1 study of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE (177Lu-DOTATATE) for the treatment of advanced, well-differentiated, midgut NETs were used to investigate whether objective tumor shrinkage (local review) with 177Lu-DOTATATE is associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) duration.

RESULTS

Overall, 117 patients were treated with 177Lu-DOTATATE (four cycles of 7.4 GBq every 8 weeks). In a landmark analysis, best tumor shrinkage from baseline until data cut-off (prior to first progression) was not associated with PFS (n = 102; hazard ratio: 1.002 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99-1.02]; nominal p = 0.7808). In further ad hoc analyses, patients on the 177Lu-DOTATATE arm were dichotomized into ≥ 30% tumor shrinkage from baseline (18/117 [15.4%]) and < 30% shrinkage (99/117 [84.6%]). Median (95% CI) PFS was 17.6 (16.5-30.3) months in the ≥ 30% shrinkage group and 25.0 (19.4-31.0) months in the < 30% group. OS was not significantly different for the two tumor shrinkage groups (not estimable [31.0 months-not estimable] and 44.3 [34.9-53.8] months, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest the benefit of PRRT and the potential PFS and OS benefit of 177Lu-DOTATATE should not be based on tumor shrinkage (objective response versus stable disease) and that lack of tumor shrinkage should not impact application of the approved four cycles of 177Lu-DOTATATE.

BRAFV600E mutation is associated with better prognoses in radioactive iodine refractory thyroid cancer patients treated with multi-kinase inhibitors: a retrospective analysis of registered clinical trials

BACKGROUND

The antiangiogenic multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs) apatinib, donafenib, and anlotinib have demonstrated satisfactory efficacy in radioactive iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAIR-DTC) in their phase II/III trials. However, the potential impact factors on the efficacy of these MKIs remain unclear.

METHODS

RAIR-DTC patients enrolled in clinical trials of apatinib, donafenib, and anlotinib in our center were retrospectively reviewed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to examine the relationship between clinicopathological variables and progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), followed by a multivariate Cox analysis on PFS.

RESULTS

A total of 71 progressive RAIR-DTC patients were reviewed, of which 26.7% were treated by anlotinib, 45.1% by apatinib, and 28.2% by donafenib. The median follow-up time was 44.1 months, the median PFS was 21.1 months, and the estimated median OS was 47.7 months. PFS and OS showed no significant differences in patients treated with apatinib, donafenib, or anlotinib. In the univariate analyses, patients with BRAFV600E mutation showed longer PFS (HR 0.345, 95% CI 0.187-0.636, p < 0.001) and OS (HR 0.382, 95% CI 0.166-0.878, p = 0.019) compared with patients with wild-type BRAF. Patients with follicular thyroid cancer and bone metastases had shorter PFS, and patients with worse Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, bone metastases, and a larger tumor burden had shorter OS. In the multivariate Cox analysis, BRAFV600E mutation was the only independent predictor of longer PFS (HR 0.296, 95% CI 0.138-0.638, p = 0.002). The overall response rate and disease control rate didn't differ between BRAFV600E mutation status. Subgroup analysis of PFS in papillary thyroid cancer patients stratified by BRAFV600E mutation status showed that BRAFV600E mutation was associated with longer PFS in all clinicopathological subgroups (hazard ratio < 1).

CONCLUSION

RAIR-DTC patients with BRAFV600E mutation treated with apatinib, donafenib, or anlotinib achieved better prognoses compared with patients with wild-type BRAF, indicating that the genetic background may play a role in predicting the efficacy of MKIs therapies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This retrospective cohort included patients in our center from clinical trials of apatinib (NCT02731352, NCT03048877), donafenib (NCT02870569, NCT03602495), and anlotinib (NCT05007093).

Tailored management of advanced thyroid cancer patients treated with lenvatinib or vandetanib: the role of a multimodal approach

BACKGROUND

In differentiated/poorly differentiated (DTC/PDTC) or medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) treated with kinase inhibitors (KIs), additional treatments (ATs) can be performed in selected cases.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed all the ATs performed in our center in KI-treated TC patients, evaluating the subsequent KI modulation, the local PD in case of loco-regional procedure (LRP) and the AT-related complications. DTC/PDTC patients with or without progressive disease before the first AT (PD and NO PD GROUP, respectively) were analysed separately.

RESULTS

In our center, 32 ATs (30 LRPs and 2 radioactive iodine treatments) were performed in 14 DTC/PDTC patients and 4 MTC subjects after the start of systemic therapy with lenvatinib or vandetanib (27 and 5 ATs, respectively). Brain was the most treated site (11/30 LRPs) and external beam radiation was the most employed LRP (18/30 LRPs). KIs dose reduction or discontinuation of KI therapy (at least transient) was performed after 50% of ATs in DTC/PDTC NO PD GROUP. The KI was maintained at the same dosage after 75% and 50% of the ATs performed in DTC/PDTC PD GROUP and MTC, respectively. During the follow-up, local PD was detected after 14 LRPs. Local progression-free survival (LPFS) was significantly shorter in DTC/PDTC PD GROUP in comparison to NO PD GROUP (12 month-LPFS 91.7% versus 15.2%); in patients with MTC, 12 month-LPFS was 50%. AT-related AEs were mostly G1-G2.

CONCLUSIONS

In selected DTC/PDTC without previous PD and treated with a multimodal strategy, local disease control is generally maintained regardless the KI dose modulation. In DTC/PDTC patients with previous limited PD and in MTC subjects, the choice of performing a LRP and continue the ongoing KI therapy must consider the risk of early local progression. AT-related AEs in KI treated patients were mild in most cases.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma treated with targeted agents: a case series and large-scale pharmacovigilance analysis

Objective

To optimize the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for cancer patients, we characterized and evaluated ONJ related to TKIs and ICIs by analyzing a public database and reviewing the relevant literature. TKIs and ICIs are limited to drugs that treat renal cancer recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Kidney Cancer.

Methods

We described a case series of patients experiencing ONJ while on TKIs or ICIs. We also analyzed spontaneous reports submitted to the FAERS in an observational and retrospective manner between January 2004 and December 2022. Selecting ONJ' adverse events to TKIs and ICIs. Associations between TKIs, ICIs and ONJ were assessed using reporting odds ratios (ROR), drug interaction signals based on the Ω shrinkage measure.

Results

29 patients with ONJ events while on TKIs and ICIs were included in our case series. 240 were related to ONJ AEs. Specifically, 32.1% ICSRs were linked to sunitinib, 16.7% to lenvatinib, 12.9% to pazopanib, 12.5% to nivolumab, 10.0% to axitinib, 5.4% to sorafenib, 5.0% to pembrolizumab, 4.2% to cabozantinib, and 1.3% to ipilimumab. More ICSRs were generally seen in male and reported in Europe. The median age was 63 years. Renal cancer and lung cancer was the most common indication for TKIs and ICIs, respectively. Excluding missing data, the prevalence of mortality was highest for sunitinib-related ONJ ICSRs (18.5%), followed by sorafenib-related ONJ ICSRs (15.4%). With the criteria of ROR, sunitinib and lenvatinib were significantly associated with ONJ AEs. With the criteria of Ω, nivolumab + cabozantinib was significantly associated with ONJ AEs.

Conclusion

TKIs and ICIs have been reported to have significant ONJ side effects. Patients and physicians need to recognize and monitor these potentially fatal adverse events.

Le cancer thyroïdien différencié réfractaire à l’iode : quelle prise en charge en 2024 ?

TREATING RADIO-IODINE REFRACTORY DIFFERENTIATED THYROID CANCER IN 2024: About 5 to 10% of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) have advanced tumors at presentation or recurrence, with invasive cervical disease and/or distant metastases that cannot be effectively treated by conventional treatment, i.e. thyroid surgery and radioactive iodine. These DTC cases are defined as refractory to radioiodine (RAIR) and require expert multidisciplinary management. In France, patients are referred to centers of the ENDOCAN-TUTHYREF Network. This review summarizes current management of RAIR DTC patients and therapeutic options available in 2024. We discuss following topics : epidemiological data, modalities of local ablative treatment for selected metastatic lesions, molecular tests to be performed, optimum timing for initiating systemic therapy, choice of first-line treatment among validated tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), alternative targeted treatments (including selective TKIs adapted to the molecular profile, some of which can redifferentiate and restore radioactive iodine uptake), proactive management of TKI side effects, and finally give an overview of systemic strategies. Management of RAIR DTC is still challenging but substantial progress has been made over the last decade that has significantly improved outcome for these more aggressive thyroid cancer.

[Systemic therapies for advanced thyroid cancer - an update]

Based on phase III clinical studies, four multi-kinase inhibitors (MKI) are approved for the treatment of progressive radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma (rrDTC) and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in Germany. Only recently, based on the randomized trial COSMIC-311, Cabozantinib has been approved as a second-line treatment option in advanced rrDTC. As first in-label selective RET-Inhibitor, Selpercatinib showed promising efficacy in advanced MTC (first line) with RET mutations and rrDTC (second line) with RET fusions along with fewer side effects. Changes and new approaches for the treatment of ATC have been summarised in the current ATA guidelines.

An Era of Advances in Systemic Therapies for Advanced Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid carcinomas comprise distinct pathologic subtypes. However, advancements in characterizing the molecular tumorigenesis of thyroid cancers have changed the treatment paradigm in the past decade. Genetic profiling has become an integral component of personalizing cancer care. Oral kinase inhibitors are currently standard-of-care therapies for progressive, radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinomas (DTCs) and medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs). Sorafenib, lenvatinib, and cabozantinib are multikinase inhibitors approved for patients with metastatic RAI-refractory DTC, whereas vandetanib and cabozantinib are approved for patients with MTC. Management of thyroid carcinomas has evolved such that targeted therapies have become therapeutic options for patients with BRAF, RET, NTRK, ALK, and ROS1 alterations and even have reported efficacy in anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. In this article, we review the advances made over the years in the treatment of metastatic thyroid carcinoma and focus on the systemic therapies that have recently transformed the treatment landscape of advanced disease.

[Thyroid carcinomas: the role of systemic therapies in internal medicine]

The molecular pathogenesis of thyroid carcinoma is well studied and of importance for the treatment of advanced stages. Differentiated, poorly differentiated and anaplastic carcinomas originate in the follicular cells, while medullary carcinomas derive from the C‑cells. The prognosis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma is generally very favourable after surgery and radioiodine therapy. Where tumours progress and lose the ability to enrich iodine, curative treatment is usually not possible. A strategy of watchful waiting is often appropriate. Activating mutations in BRAF or gene fusions of RET and NTRK provide opportunities for targeted therapies. These may be applied with the aim of restoring iodine uptake (redifferentiation). In the absence of molecular therapy targets, multityrosine kinase inhibitors (MKI) are the therapy of choice. If anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is suspected, rapid diagnostic workup including molecular pathology is warranted. Surgery where possible and radiochemotherapy are essential components of therapy. In the presence of a BRAF mutation, inhibition of BRAF and MEK is effective, even if it is not approved in Germany. Where molecular targets are lacking, combination therapy with the MKI lenvatinib and immune checkpoint inhibition is highly effective. Mutations in RET are present in the vast majority of cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma. In aggressive advanced disease, selective RET inhibition has recently been approved as first-line therapy and often leads to an objective response and long-lasting disease stabilisation. In summary, thyroid carcinomas are among the tumour entities for which molecularly targeted therapies can be used most frequently. The involvement of specialised centres is advisable.

Management of patients with extensive locally advanced thyroid cancer: results of multimodal treatments

PURPOSE

Surgery plays a key role in the treatment of thyroid cancer (TC) patients. Locally advanced cases, however, can require an extensive surgical approach with technical issues and a high risk of complications. In these cases, a multidisciplinary evaluation should be carried out to evaluate pros and cons. The aim of this study was to share our experience, as a multidisciplinary team, in the management of patients with locally advanced TC with a particularly extensive local disease, whose surgical approach could be challenging and part of a multimodal treatment.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated clinical, surgical, and oncologic features of all patients with locally advanced TC who had undergone multidisciplinary surgery from January 2019 to June 2020.

RESULTS

Six patients (two cases each of poorly differentiated, papillary, and medullary TC) were included. Four out of six were suffering from symptoms related to the advanced disease. At pre-surgical evaluation, a multidisciplinary team proposed extended surgery with radical intent via cervicotomy and sternotomy, considering other therapies not feasible or probably ineffective without it. No one passed away in intra- or perioperative time. At the end of follow-up (median 2.6 years), all patients presented a remission of symptoms due to the advanced disease, four patients were submitted to adjuvant therapies and only one patient died for a cause unrelated to the disease.

CONCLUSION

This series of very advanced TCs shows the effectiveness of a surgery performed by a multidisciplinary team in controlling symptoms, allowing adjuvant therapies, and improving the survival of patients whose cases would otherwise be very difficult to manage.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors for radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The poor overall prognosis of radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer is an inevitable challenge in managing this disease. A series of trials have demonstrated the antitumor activity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAIR-DTC). However, the available evidence cannot determine the optimal choice of TKI in RAIR-DTC.

METHODS

This study searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane databases, and the ClinicalTrials website. The Cochrane bias risk tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and to evaluate randomized clinical trials (RCT) of RAIR-DTC patients treated with the TKI system. Outcomes, including progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events (AEs) were reported.

RESULTS

Seven studies involving 1310 patients with RAIR-DTC was conducted to compare the PFS and OS of various TKI monotherapies with placebo. The results showed that all TKI monotherapies had a statistically significant benefit in terms of PFS compared with placebo, with lenvatinib demonstrating the greatest benefit (hazard ratio [HR] 0.19, 95% credible interval [CrI] 0.14-0.25). In terms of OS, only apatinib (HR 0.42, 95% CrI 0.18-0.97) and anlotinib (HR 0.36, 95% CrI 0.18-0.73) showed statistically significant benefits compared with placebo. TKIs also had a higher incidence of AEs of grade 3 or higher compared with placebo. The findings suggest that lenvatinib may be the preferred TKI for the treatment of RAIR-DTC, although its high incidence of AEs should be considered. The results also indicate that TKI treatment may be similarly effective in RAIR-DTC patients with BRAF or RAS mutations and in those with papillary or follicular subtypes of the disease, regardless of prior TKI treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this meta-analysis suggest that targeted therapy with TKIs may be beneficial for patients with radioiodine-refractory advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer. Among the TKIs analyzed, lenvatinib appeared to be the most effective at improving PFS, although it also had the highest incidence of AEs. Further research through direct randomized controlled trials is needed to determine the optimal choice of TKI for treating patients with RAIR-DTC. This study is beneficial for formulating patients' treatment plans and guides clinicians' decision-making.

Electrolyte disorders induced by six multikinase inhibitors therapy for renal cell carcinoma: a large-scale pharmacovigilance analysis

To provide evidence for optimization of multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs) use in the clinic, we use the public database to describe and evaluate electrolyte disorders (EDs) related to various MKIs treated for renal cell carcinoma. We analyzed spontaneous reports submitted to the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) in an observational and retrospective manner. Selecting electrolyte disorders' adverse events to multikinase inhibitors (axitinib, cabozantinib, lenvatinib, pazopanib, sunitinib, and sorafenib). We used Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), and multi-item gamma Poisson shrinker (MGPS) algorithms to analyze suspected adverse reactions of electrolyte disorders induced by MKIs (which were treated for renal cell carcinoma) between January 2004 and December 2022. As of December 2022, 2772 MKIs (which were treated for renal cell carcinoma) ICSRs were related to electrolyte disorders AEs. In general, there were more AEs cases in males, except lenvatinib and 71.8% of the cases were submitted from North America. ICSRs in this study, the age group most frequently affected by electrolyte disorders AEs was individuals aged 45-64 years for axitinib, cabozantinib, pazopanib, and sunitinib, whereas electrolyte disorders AEs were more common in older patients (65-74 years) for sorafenib and lenvatinib. For all EDs documented in ICSRs (excluding missing data), the most common adverse outcome was hospitalization(1429/2674, 53.4%), and the most serious outcome was death/life-threat(281/2674, 10.5%). The prevalence of mortality was highest for sunitinib-related EDs (145/616, 23.5%), excluding missing data (n = 68), followed by cabozantinib-related EDs (20/237, 8.4%), excluding missing data (n = 1). The distribution of time-to-onset of Each drug-related ICSRs was not all the same, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.001). With the criteria of ROR, the six MKIs were all significantly associated with electrolyte disorders AEs, the strongest association was the association between cabozantinib and hypermagnesaemia. MKIs have been reported to have significant electrolyte disorders AEs. Patients and physicians need to recognize and monitor these potentially fatal adverse events.

Management of radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer: the Latin American perspective

Radioiodine (RAI) refractory differentiated thyroid cancer is an uncommon and challenging situation that requires a multidisciplinary approach to therapeutic strategies. The definition of RAI-refractoriness is usually a clear situation in specialized centers. However, the right moment for initiation of multikinase inhibitors (MKI), the time and availability for genomic testing, and the possibility of prescribing MKI and selective kinase inhibitors differ worldwide.Latin America (LA) refers to the territories of the world that stretch across two regions: North America (including Central America and the Caribbean) and South America, containing 8.5% of the world's population. In this manuscript, we critically review the current standard approach recommended for patients with RAI refractory differentiated thyroid cancer, emphasizing the challenges faced in LA. To achieve this objective, the Latin American Thyroid Society (LATS) convened a panel of experts from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. Access to MKI compounds continues to be a challenge in all LA countries. This is true not only for MKI but also for the new selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which will also require genomic testing, that is not widely available. Thus, as precision medicine advances, significant disparities will be made more evident, and despite efforts to improve coverage and reimbursement, molecular-based precision medicine remains inaccessible to most of the LA population. Efforts should be undertaken to alleviate the discrepancies between the current state-of-the-art care for RAI-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer and the present situation in Latin America.

Real-world practice patterns and outcomes for RAI-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer

Background

The optimal timing for initiating multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs) in patients with radioactive iodine-refractory (RAI-R) differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) remains unclear. Thus, we evaluated the real-world practice patterns and outcomes in asymptomatic patients with progressive RAI-R DTC (≥1 lesion ≥1 cm in diameter) in the USA (US population) and outside the USA (non-US population).

Methods

In this prospective, non-interventional, open-label study, eligible patients were chosen by treating physicians to receive MKI therapy (cohort 1) or undergo active surveillance (cohort 2) at study entry. Cohort 2 patients were allowed to transition to MKI therapy later. The primary endpoint was time to symptomatic progression (TTSP) from study entry. Data were compared descriptively. When endpoints were inestimable, 36-month rates were calculated.

Results

Of the 647 patients, 478 underwent active surveillance (cohort 2) and 169 received MKI treatment (cohort 1). Patients underwent surveillance at a higher rate in the US (92.6%) vs the non-US (66.9%) populations. Half of US and non-US patients who qualified for MKI treatment had initial American Thyroid Association (ATA) low-to-intermediate-risk disease. In cohort 2, the 36-month TTSP rates from study entry were 65.6% and 66.5% in the US and non-US populations, respectively. Cohort 2 patients treated later demonstrated 36-month TTSP rates of 30.8% and 55.8% in the US and non-US populations, respectively.

Conclusions

Active surveillance is a viable option for asymptomatic patients with progressive RAI-R DTC. However, early intervention with MKI therapy may be more suitable for others. Further research is needed to identify patients who are optimal for active surveillance.

Registration

NCT02303444.

[Systemic therapies for advanced thyroid cancer - an update]

Based on phase III clinical studies, four multi-kinase inhibitors (MKI) are approved for the treatment of progressive radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma (rrDTC) and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in Germany. Only recently, based on the randomized trial COSMIC-311, Cabozantinib has been approved as a second-line treatment option in advanced rrDTC. As first in-label selective RET-Inhibitor, Selpercatinib showed promising efficacy in advanced MTC (first line) with RET mutations and rrDTC (second line) with RET fusions along with fewer side effects. Changes and new approaches for the treatment of ATC have been summarised in the current ATA guidelines.

Survival Outcomes of Advanced Thyroid Cancer Enriched in Brain Metastases Following Treatment With Small Molecule Inhibitors

OBJECTIVE

Small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) are targeted therapies increasingly used in advanced thyroid carcinomas. This study aimed to evaluate the survival outcomes of thyroid cancer on SMI treatment, including in patients with brain metastases.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients with thyroid carcinomas who received at least one SMI between 2008 and 2022 at a tertiary level, academic institution. SMI included lenvatinib, sorafenib, dabrafenib-trametinib, selpercatinib, and cabozantinib. Patients were grouped by the presence of brain metastasis. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests modeled the overall survival (OS), defined from detection of first metastasis.

RESULTS

In total, 116 patients (49.1% female, median age 61.1 years [IQR, 51.1-71.0]) were included. Thyroid cancer subtypes were: 57 (49.6%) papillary, 23 (19.8%) anaplastic, 23 (19.8%) medullary, and 13 (11.2%) follicular. There were 18 (15.5%) patients with brain metastases, and 98 (84.5%) with visceral metastases. Age, sex, thyroid subtype, SMI, and time to recurrence were not different between cohorts. OS was shorter in the brain metastasis cohort (31.7 vs 42.2 months, P =.44) and was not different after excluding anaplastic thyroid cancer (29.1 vs 62.3 months, P =.21). In the case of papillary thyroid cancer, patients with brain metastases trended toward worse OS (22.0 vs 59.9 months, P =.13). Nonanaplastic histology, total thyroidectomy (OR, 40.0; P <.001), number of unique therapies (OR, 10.9; P =.047), and mutation-directed therapy (OR, 24.7; P =.003) were associated with improved OS.

CONCLUSION

This single-institutional analysis reports survival outcomes of 116 patients with advanced thyroid cancer on targeted therapies, including 18 patients with brain metastases. Mutation-directed therapy for BRAFV600E mutations, RET mutations, RET fusions, and NTRK fusions had superior survival.

Psychiatric adverse reactions to non-selective RET multi-kinase inhibitors: a large-scale pharmacovigilance analysis

Objective: The development of non-selective multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs) has improved the. survival outcomes of patients with cancers. Psychiatric disorders represent an MKIs related AE of particular concern, as they are often ignored and may harm the patient's personal and social functioning. Therefore, we use the public database to describe and evaluate psychiatric adverse events related to various non-selective RET MKIs. Provide evidence for optimizing drug administration in the clinic. Methods: We analyzed spontaneous reports submitted to the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Events Reporting System FDA Adverse Event Reporting System in an observational and retrospective manner. Selecting psychiatric AEs to non-selective RET multikinase inhibitors (sorafenib, lenvatinib, vandetanib, cabozantinib, and sunitinib). We used Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), and multi-item gamma Poisson shrinker (MGPS) algorithms to analyze suspected adverse reactions of psychiatric related induced by non-selective RET MKIs between January 2004 and September 2022. Results: As of September 2022, 1,108 non-selective RET MKIs ICSRs were related to psychiatric AEs. 706 were ADR ICSRs, and 402 were non-ADR ICSRs. There were more ADR cases in males (69.5%), and 71.8% of the cases were submitted from North America. The age group most frequently affected by psychiatric ADRs was individuals aged 50-64 years for sorafenib, whereas 65-74 years for sunitinib, cabozantinib, and lenvatinib. In all psychiatric ADRs ICSRs, excluding missing data (n = 329), the most common adverse outcome was hospitalization (260/377, 69.0%), and the most serious was death (100/377, 26.5%). What calls for special attention is that the percentage of death rate for sunitinib was highest (24/54, 44.4%) in sunitinib-related psychiatric ADRs ICSRs, (excluding missing data, n = 44), followed by lenvatinib (4/14, 28.6%). Based on ROR, PRR, BCPNN, and MGPS methods, sorafenib, sunitinib, cabozantinib, and lenvatinib are significantly associated with all ADRs, the strongest association was the association between cabozantinib and feeding disorder. Conclusion: Despite the limitations, our study found that, except for vandetanib, other four drugs have been reported to have significant psychiatric side effects. Clinicians need to recognize and monitor these potentially fatal adverse events. If it is suitable for treatment with vandetanib, doctors should choose vandetanib for treatment.

Lenvatinib for the treatment of radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer: treatment optimization for maximum clinical benefit

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Lenvatinib Compared with Sorafenib as a First-Line Treatment for Radioactive Iodine-Refractory, Progressive, Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Real-World Outcomes in a Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: Sorafenib and lenvatinib have been widely adopted to treat radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). However, limited data exist regarding a direct comparison of these tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of two TKIs as first-line therapy in patients with distant metastatic or locally advanced, progressive, RAI-refractory DTC in real-world practice. Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective cohort study, we evaluated 136 patients with progressive distant metastatic or locally advanced, progressive, RAI-refractory DTC or poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) who received first-line sorafenib or lenvatinib treatment. The primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS). We also evaluated the objective response rate, disease-control rate, clinical benefit rate, and safety. Results: The median age of the patients was 68 years, and 35% (47/136) were male. Eighty and fifty-six patients were included in the sorafenib and lenvatinib groups, respectively. The median PFS was 13.3 months [95% confidence interval, CI, 9.9-18.1 months] in the sorafenib group and 35.3 months [CI, 18.2 months to upper limit not reported as the median was not reached] in the lenvatinib group (p = 0.001). A significantly prolonged PFS was observed in the lenvatinib group (compared with the sorafenib group) after adjusting for age, sex, pathology, disease-related symptom, lung-only metastasis, cumulative RAI dose, time from diagnosis, treatment duration, and longest diameter of the target lesion (hazard ratio = 0.34, CI, 0.19-0.60, p < 0.001). The partial response rate was 24% and 59% in the sorafenib and lenvatinib groups, respectively (p < 0.001). More common grade 3-4 adverse events were hypertension (16%, 9/56 vs. 1%, 1/80, p = 0.002) and proteinuria (32%, 18/56 vs. 0%, p < 0.001) in the lenvatinib group, and hand-foot skin reaction (24%, 19/80 vs. 4%, 2/56, p = 0.001) in the sorafenib group. Conclusion: In our study of Asian patients, first-line lenvatinib treatment of metastatic or locally advanced, progressive, RAI-refractory DTC or PDTC was associated with a longer PFS compared with sorafenib. However, severe hypertension and proteinuria were observed more frequently after lenvatinib treatment than after sorafenib treatment.

Survival prognostic factors for differentiated thyroid cancer patients with pulmonary metastases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The prognostic factors for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients with pulmonary metastases (PM) remain scantly identified and analyzed. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to identify and summarize the prognostic factors in adult DTC patients with PM to help distinguish patients with different prognoses and inform the rational treatment regimens.

METHOD

We performed a comprehensive search of the relevant studies published in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Wanfang database, VIP database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Google Scholar from their inception until February 2021. The pooled hazard ratios (HR) for overall survival and/or progression-free survival (PFS) with 95% confidence intervals were applied to evaluate and identify the potential prognostic factors. Pooled OS at different time points were also calculated for the available data. A random-effects model was used in the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

The review and meta-analysis included 21 studies comprising 2722 DTC patients with PM. The prognostic factors for poor OS were: age over 40 years (HR=7.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.52-34.10, P=0.01, N=788), age over 45 years (HR=2.18, 95% CI 1.26-3.77, P<0.01, N=601), male gender (HR=1.01, 95% CI 1.01-1.19, P=0.03, N=1396), follicular subtype of thyroid cancer (HR=1.63, 95% CI 1.36-1.96, P<0.01, N=2110), iodine non-avidity (HR=3.10, 95% CI 1.79-5.37, P<0.01, N=646), and metastases to other organs (HR=3.18, 95% CI 2.43-4.16, P<0.01, N=1713). Factors associated with poor PFS included age over 45 years (HR=3.85, 95% CI 1.29-11.47, P<0.01, N=306), male gender (HR=1.36, 95% CI 1.06-1.75, P=0.02, N=546), iodine non-avidity (HR=2.93, 95% CI 2.18-3.95, P<0.01, N=395), pulmonary metastatic nodule size over 10mm (HR=2.56, 95% CI 2.02-3.24, P<0.01, N=513), and extra-thyroidal invasion (HR=2.05, 95% CI 1.15-3.67, P=0.02, N=271). The pooled 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20-years OS were 95.24%, 88.46%, 78.36%, 64.86%, 56.57%, and 51.03%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This review and meta-analysis identified the prognostic factors of DTC patients with PM. Notably, FTC, metastases to other organs, and iodine non-avidity were particularly associated with poor prognosis. The identified prognostic factors will help guide the clinical management of DTC patients with PM.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-2-0026/, identifier (INPLASY202220026).

Preclinical Models of Follicular Cell-Derived Thyroid Cancer: An Overview from Cancer Cell Lines to Mouse Models

The overall prognosis of thyroid cancer is excellent, but some patients have grossly invasive disease and distant metastases with limited responses to systemic therapies. Thus, relevant preclinical models are needed to investigate thyroid cancer biology and novel treatments. Different preclinical models have recently emerged with advances in thyroid cancer genetics, mouse modeling and new cell lines. Choosing the appropriate model according to the research question is crucial to studying thyroid cancer. This review will discuss the current preclinical models frequently used in thyroid cancer research, from cell lines to mouse models, and future perspectives on patient-derived and humanized preclinical models in this field.

Prognostic significance of lung metastasis-related finding in lenvatinib treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer

PURPOSE

This study aimed to analyze the clinical course of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) who were treated by lenvatinib and investigate the specific criteria for the initiation of lenvatinib in lung metastasis.

METHODS

A total of 111 patients with DTC treated by lenvatinib were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the target lesion for the initiation of lenvatinib: lung metastasis group and other metastases group.

RESULTS

In the univariate analysis, the tumor size for the lung metastasis (p = 0.002) and the factor of lung metastasis group (p &lt; 0.001) were significantly associated with overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis revealed that the factor of lung metastasis group [hazard ratio, 0.408; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.206-0.810; p = 0.010] was the only independent prognostic factor of OS. Of the 53 patients in the lung metastasis group, 12 (23%) had lung metastasis-related finding such as pleural effusion (n = 12), hemoptysis (n = 2), and dyspnea (n = 1) at the initiation of lenvatinib treatment. The median OS in patients with or without lung metastasis-related findings were 41.0 [95% CI, 10.4-not available (NA)] months and 62.9 (95% CI, 53.0-NA) months, respectively (p = 0.022).

CONCLUSION

Patients with lung metastasis-related finding at the initiation of lenvatinib treatment had a poorer prognosis among the lung metastasis group. It is important to consider not only the tumor size but also the presence of lung metastasis-related findings when initiating lenvatinib treatment for DTC patients with lung metastasis.

Management of Progressive Radioiodine-Refractory Thyroid Carcinoma: Current Perspective

Patients with thyroid cancer (TC) usually have an excellent prognosis; however, 5-10% of them develop an advanced disease. The prognosis of this subgroup is still favourable if the lesions respond to radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. Nearly two-thirds of advanced TC patients become RAI-refractory (RAI-R), and their management is challenging. A multidisciplinary approach in the context of a tumour board is essential to define a personalized strategy. Systemic therapy is not always the best option. In case of slow neoplastic growth and low tumour burden, active surveillance may represent a valuable choice. Local approaches might be considered if the disease progression is limited to a single or few lesions, also in combination and during systemic therapy. Antiresorptive treatment may be started in presence of bone metastases. In case of rapid and/or symptomatic progression involving multiple lesions and/or organs, systemic therapy has to be considered, in absence of contraindications. The multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs) lenvatinib and sorafenib are currently available as first-line treatment for advanced progressive RAI-R TC. Among second-line options, cabozantinib has been recently approved in RAI-R TC who progressed during MKIs targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). In the last few years, next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays have been increasingly employed, permitting identification of the genetic alterations harboured by TC, with a significant impact on patients' management. Novel selective targeted therapies have been introduced for the treatment of RAI-R TC in selected cases: REarranged during Transfection (RET) inhibitors (selpercatinib and pralsetinib) and Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase (TRK) inhibitors (larotrectinib and entrectinib) have recently expanded the panorama of the therapeutic options. Moreover, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown promising results, and they are still under investigation.

Multimodal approach to the treatment of patients with radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer and metastases to the central nervous system

The diagnosis of central nervous system metastases in patients with radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer is a late and rare event that occurs in less than 1% of patients. Definitive conclusions on the overall clinical management cannot be drawn due to the limited number of patients included in retrospective series or post hoc analysis from clinical trials. However, most data show a trend to an increased benefit from a multimodal approach. Local treatment based on surgical and/or radiation techniques is highly encouraged for symptom control and to reduce tumor burden in this location despite a high risk of clinical complications. In addition, systemic treatment with novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors has demonstrated activity in this subgroup of patients, improving an otherwise unfavorable prognosis.

Assessment of Treatment Response to Lenvatinib in Thyroid Cancer Monitored by F-18 FDG PET/CT Using PERCIST 1.0, Modified PERCIST and EORTC Criteria-Which One Is Most Suitable?

Background: We aimed to compare the established metabolic response criteria PERCIST and EORTC for their applicability and predictive value in terms of clinical response assessment early after the initiation of lenvatinib therapy in patients with metastatic radioiodine-refractory (RAI) thyroid cancer (TC). Methods: In 25 patients treated with lenvatinib, baseline and 4-month follow-up F-18 FDG PET/CT images were analyzed using PERCIST 1.0, modified PERCIST (using SUVpeak or SUVmax) and EORTC criteria. Two groups were defined: disease control (DC) and progressive disease (PD), which were correlated with PFS and OS. Results: PERCIST, mPERCIST, PERCISTmax and EORTC could be applied in 80%, 80%, 88% and 100% of the patients based on the requirements of lesion assessment criteria, respectively. With PERCIST, mPERCIST, PERCISTmax and EORTC, the patients classified as DC and PD ranged from 65 to 68% and from 32 to 35%, respectively. Patients with DC exhibited a longer median PFS than patients with PD for EORTC (p < 0.014) and for PERCIST and mPERCIST (p = 0.037), respectively. Conclusion: EORTC and the different PERCIST criteria performed equally regarding the identification of patients with PD requiring treatment changes. However, the applicability of PERCIST 1.0 using SULpeak seems restricted due to the significant proportion of small tumor lesions.

Impact of baseline tumor burden on overall survival in patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer treated with lenvatinib in the SELECT global phase 3 trial

Background

Radioiodine‐refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAI‐R DTC) is an aggressive form of thyroid cancer. Lenvatinib is a multikinase inhibitor approved for treatment of RAI‐R DTC. The impact of tumor response and tumor burden on overall survival (OS) after lenvatinib treatment in patients with RAI‐R DTC was assessed.

Methods

Data from patients treated with lenvatinib (N = 261) in SELECT were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into lenvatinib responder or nonresponder subgroups and into low (≤40 mm) or high (>40 mm) tumor burden subgroups based on baseline sums of diameters of target lesions using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1 (cutoff values were determined by receiver‐operating characteristic analyses). Associations of tumor response and tumor burden with OS were assessed.

Results

Median OS was prolonged in lenvatinib responders versus nonresponders (52.2 vs 19.0 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.32; 95% CI, 0.23‐0.46). Patients with a lower tumor burden who received lenvatinib had prolonged OS versus those with a higher tumor burden (median OS, not reached vs 29.1 months, respectively; HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.28‐0.63). Baseline tumor burden was associated with OS by multivariate analysis (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.35‐0.89; P = .0138).

Conclusions

Patients with a lower tumor burden receiving lenvatinib had prolonged OS compared with those with a higher tumor burden receiving lenvatinib. Baseline tumor burden may be a prognostic factor for OS in patients with RAI‐R DTC treated with lenvatinib.

Patients with radioiodine‐refractory differentiated thyroid cancer who had lower tumor burdens at baseline had longer overall survivals after lenvatinib treatment compared with those with higher tumor burdens. Results suggest that tumor burden may be prognostic of overall survival in this population.

A proposed clinical scoring system for initiation of lenvatinib treatment in radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer patients

PURPOSE

The optimal timing for starting lenvatinib treatment in patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC) has long been controversial because of the relatively slow-growing nature of differentiated thyroid cancer. The aim of this study was to establish a scoring system using known clinical factors to simplify decision-making in when to start lenvatinib in RR-DTC patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed RR-DTC patients treated with lenvatinib. We developed the clinical indication scoring algorithm on the basis of age, tumor-related symptoms, histology, metastatic sites, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, size of lung metastases, baseline sum of tumor diameters, and tumor-volume doubling time that was used to categorize patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups.

RESULTS

A total of 59 patients were analyzed; 13 low-risk, 36 intermediate-risk, and 10 high-risk. The respective median progression-free survival from the initiation of lenvatinib was 93.7 months in the low-risk group, 20.3 months in the intermediate-risk group, and 6.2 months in the high-risk group (p < 0.02). Patients in the high-risk group had significantly worse overall survival compared with those in the low-risk (hazard ratio [HR] 6.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25-34.90, p < 0.03) or intermediate-risk (HR 2.99, 95% CI 1.03-8.63, p < 0.05) group. Using our proposed algorithm, patients in the intermediate-risk group showed treatment outcomes similar to that were observed in the pivotal trial of lenvatinib, and were the optimal patients to start lenvatinib.

CONCLUSION

Our proposed scoring system can separate treatment outcomes and prognosis of RR-DTC patients treated with lenvatinib. This simple algorithm can be helpful for oncologists in deciding whether to start lenvatinib treatment in patients with RR-DTC.

Long-term management of recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma treated with lenvatinib for over 5 years: a case report

BACKGROUND

Few reports exist of the long-term management of recurrent and progressive papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor for over 5 years.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 57-year-old woman was referred to a psychiatric hospital for the treatment of schizophrenia. The patient had been diagnosed with a PTC at the age of 40 and subsequently underwent a left thyroid lobectomy. At 47, completion total thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection were performed and the patient assessed as radioactive iodine refractory postoperatively. External radiation therapy was performed for Rouviere lymph nodes. At 57, neck and mediastinal lymph nodes, and lung metastases had progressed, and the trachea became narrowed by para-tracheal lymph node compression. After 2 weeks of sorafenib therapy on an outpatient basis, the patient was discovered unconsciousness at home and transferred to hospital by ambulance; sorafenib therapy was stopped. The patient was diagnosed with reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome by brain magnetic resonance imaging. External radiation therapy to the site of the tracheal stenosis in the neck and mediastinum was performed. The patient's mental symptoms worsened, and she was referred to a psychiatric hospital, Kachi Memorial Hospital, in July 2015. In September, the patient's mental state stabilized and in November, after computed tomography revealed rapid disease progression, lenvatinib was commenced at a daily dose of 24 mg. Measurable solid recurrence sites were neck lymph nodes in the pre-laryngeal subcutaneous space, right lobe of the lung, and left adrenal. After 3 months, the tumors shrank in a partial response (PR). Because of several adverse events, occasional dose reductions or discontinuations of lenvatinib were sometimes necessary. Since re-starting lenvatinib, treatment with this for 51 consecutive months was achieved while maintaining a PR. Although a new bone metastasis was noted after 57 months of lenvatinib, treatment was continued for another 9 months. The patient subsequently passed away in June 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

The long-term treatment of recurrent PTC with lenvatinib was feasible, with manageable adverse events, for more than 5 years.

Radioiodine Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Patients with radioactive iodine (RAI) refractory locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer have a poor prognosis. This article reviews the definition of RAI-refractory thyroid cancer and the management approach. Watchful waiting should be considered for patients with asymptomatic and non-progressive disease, while oral targeted agent with tyrosine kinase inhibitors can be considered for patients who are symptomatic or whose disease would cause irreversible complications if treatment has not been initiated. Since these targeted agents only improve disease-free survival and are associated with adverse events, physicians should assess both clinical and tumor factors carefully to decide on the right timing of start of palliative treatment.

OUP accepted manuscript

Background

Lenvatinib is a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for treating patients with locally recurrent or metastatic progressive radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC). In this review, we discuss recent developments in the optimization of RR-DTC treatment with lenvatinib.

Summary

Initiation of lenvatinib treatment before a worsening of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status and elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio could benefit patients with progressive RR-DTC. The median duration of response with lenvatinib was inversely correlated with a smaller tumor burden, and prognosis was significantly worse in patients with a high tumor burden. An 18 mg/day starting dose of lenvatinib was not noninferior to 24 mg/day and had a comparable safety profile. Timely management of adverse events is crucial, as patients with shorter dose interruptions benefitted more from lenvatinib treatment. Caution should be exercised when initiating lenvatinib in patients who have tumor infiltration into the trachea or other organs, or certain histological subtypes of DTC, as these are risk factors for fistula formation or organ perforation. The Study of (E7080) LEnvatinib in Differentiated Cancer of the Thyroid (SELECT) eligibility criteria should be considered prior to initiating lenvatinib treatment.

Conclusions

Current evidence indicates that patients benefit most from lenvatinib treatment that is initiated earlier in advanced disease when the disease burden is low. A starting dose of lenvatinib 24 mg/day, with dose modifications as required, yields better outcomes as compared to 18 mg/day. Appropriate supportive care, including timely identification of adverse events, is essential to manage toxicities associated with lenvatinib, avoid longer dose interruptions, and maximize efficacy.

Lenvatinib Targets PDGFR-β Pericytes and Inhibits Synergy With Thyroid Carcinoma Cells: Novel Translational Insights

CONTEXT

Pericyte populations abundantly express tyrosine kinases (eg, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β [PDGFR-β]) and impact therapeutic response. Lenvatinib is a clinically available tyrosine kinase inhibitor that also targets PDGFR-β. Duration of therapeutic response was shorter in patients with greater disease burden and metastasis. Patients may develop drug resistance and tumor progression.

OBJECTIVES

Develop a gene signature of pericyte abundance to assess with tumor aggressiveness and determine both the response of thyroid-derived pericytes to lenvatinib and their synergies with thyroid carcinoma-derived cells.

DESIGN

Using a new gene signature, we estimated the relative abundance of pericytes in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and normal thyroid (NT) TCGA samples. We also cocultured CD90+;PAX8- thyroid-derived pericytes and BRAFWT/V600E-PTC-derived cells to determine effects of coculture on paracrine communications and lenvatinib response.

RESULTS

Pericyte abundance is significantly higher in BRAFV600E-PTC with hTERT mutations and copy number alterations compared with NT or BRAFWT-PTC samples, even when data are corrected for clinical-pathologic confounders. We have identified upregulated pathways important for tumor survival, immunomodulation, RNA transcription, cell-cycle regulation, and cholesterol metabolism. Pericyte growth is significantly increased by platelet-derived growth factor-BB, which activates phospho(p)-PDGFR-β, pERK1/2, and pAKT. Lenvatinib strongly inhibits pericyte viability by down-regulating MAPK, pAKT, and p-p70S6-kinase downstream PDGFR-β. Critically, lenvatinib significantly induces higher BRAFWT/V600E-PTC cell death when cocultured with pericytes, as a result of pericyte targeting via PDGFR-β.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first thyroid-specific model of lenvatinib therapeutic efficacy against pericyte viability, which disadvantages BRAFWT/V600E-PTC growth. Assessing pericyte abundance in patients with PTC could be essential to selection rationales for appropriate targeted therapy with lenvatinib.

Kinase-Inhibitors in Iodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer-Focus on Occurrence, Mechanisms, and Management of Treatment-Related Hypertension

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) usually has a good prognosis when treated conventionally with thyroidectomy, radioactive iodine (RAI) and thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression, but some tumors develop a resistance to RAI therapy, requiring alternative treatments. Sorafenib, lenvatinib and cabozantinib are multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) approved for the treatment of RAI-refractory DTC. The drugs have been shown to improve progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) via the inhibition of different receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) that are involved in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis. Both sorafenib and lenvatinib have been approved irrespective of the line of therapy for the treatment of RAI-refractory DTC, whereas cabozantinib has only been approved as a second-line treatment. Adverse effects (AEs) such as hypertension are often seen with MKI treatment, but are generally well manageable. In this review, current clinical studies will be discussed, and the toxicity and safety of sorafenib, lenvatinib and cabozantinib treatment will be evaluated, with a focus on AE hypertension and its treatment options. In short, treatment-emergent hypertension (TE-HTN) occurs with all three drugs, but is usually well manageable and leads only to a few dose modifications or even discontinuations. This is emphasized by the fact that lenvatinib is widely considered the first-line drug of choice, despite its higher rate of TE-HTN.

Low Dose of Lenvatinib Treatment for Patients of Radioiodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma - A Real-World Experience

Background

Lenvatinib treatment of 24 mg/day for radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma (RRDTC) patients was almost intolerable, with high rates of dose reduction, interruption and discontinuation. Balancing treatment safety with disease risks remains challenging, and the appropriate dosage remains unclear in Asia.

Patients and Methods

A total of 65 RRDTC patients treated with lenvatinib were retrospectively collected from Oct. 2015 to Jun. 2020 from two medical centers of South Taiwan. The drug tolerability, treatment efficacy and clinical outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Different doses of lenvatinib were initiated but ultimately maintained with a median dose of 10 mg/day within the first 3 months. The disease control rate reached 89.2%, including 24.6% partial response and 64.6% stable disease. Disease progression occurred in 10.8% of patients and increased to 40.0% at the end. Eventually, the treatment dose achieved a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 26.1 months (95% CI: 17.1-NA) with overall survival (OS) not reached yet (24.1~NA). Overall, the 48-month PFS rate was 35.6% (95% CI: 18.5–68.4) and 48-month OS was 54.3% (95% CI: 41.2–71.7). The dose was tolerable with a dose reduction rate of 44.6%, dose interruption rate of 40.0% and fewer high-graded adverse events. The drug discontinuation rate was only 3.1%. However, RRDTC patients with bone metastasis or maximal dose exposure to RAI (≥600 mCi) may have less efficacy to the low maintenance dose treatment.

Conclusion

Assessing treatment intensity, safety and efficacy, low-dose lenvatinib treatment was well tolerated by RRDTC patients and displayed acceptable drug efficacy and outcomes.

Clinical efficacy of lenvatinib for the treatment of radioiodine-refractory thyroid carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of lenvatinib in the treatment of radioiodine-refractory thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Thyroid carcinoma is one of the top ten carcinomas worldwide. Clinically, thyroid cancers are managed with resections and adjuvant therapy with radioiodine. However, radioiodine is not effective for radioiodine-refractory (RR) thyroid carcinoma in some patients. Lenvatinib is a multi-kinase inhibitor for the treatment of RR thyroid carcinoma. Several clinical trials showed its efficacy in prolonging progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS

A systematic search was done on databases (PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane) on 8 June 2020. Search keywords were lenvatinib, thyroid carcinoma and randomized controlled trials. Clinical trials fulfilling the SELECT protocol were selected to evaluate the efficacy of lenvatinib in terms of prolongation of PFS, OS and objective response rate (ORR). The risk ratio and distribution of grade 3 or above adverse events were documented.

RESULTS

Of the 3997 patients of mean age 62.5 years in fifteen selected studies, lenvatinib is associated with prolonged PFS (hazard ratio 0.24, 95% CI, 0.19-0.31, p < .001) and OS (hazard ratio 0.65, 95% CI, 0.52-0.81, p < .001). Compared with placebo, the risk ratio of ORR and incidence of grade 3 or above adverse events are 35.41 (95% CI, 19.42-64.58, p < .001) and 8.25 (95% CI, 6.50-10.46, p < .001), respectively. Subgroup analysis shows that lenvatinib is effective for all patients with RR thyroid carcinoma, regardless of age, histological subtypes, radiological subtypes and mutation status.

CONCLUSION

Lenvatinib is effective in the treatment of RR thyroid carcinoma. Close monitoring of serious adverse events is recommended.

Lenvatinib: an investigational agent for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer

INTRODUCTION

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC; >90% of all TCs) derives from follicular cells. Surgery is the main therapeutic strategy, and radioiodine (RAI) is administered after thyroidectomy. When DTC progresses, it does not respond to RAI and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-suppressive thyroid hormone treatment, and other therapies (i.e. surgery, external beam radiation therapy and chemotherapy) do not lead to a better survival. Thanks to the understanding of the molecular pathways involved in TC progression, important advances have been done. Lenvatinib is a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGFR1-3, FGFR1-4, PDGFRα, RET, and KIT signaling networks implicated in tumor angiogenesis, approved in locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, RAI-refractory DTC. Unmet needs regarding the patient clinical therapy responsiveness in aggressive RAI-refractory DTC still remain.

AREAS COVERED

We provide an overview from the literature of in vitro, in vivo and real-life studies regarding lenvatinib as an investigational agent for the treatment of aggressive TC.

EXPERT OPINION

According to the SELECT trial, the treatment should be initiated with a dosage of 24 mg/day, subsequently decreasing it in relation to the side effects. The decision making process in patients with aggressive RAI-refractory DTC should be personalized and the potential toxicity should be properly managed.

Correlation of Performance Status and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio with Efficacy in Radioiodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Treated with Lenvatinib

Background: Radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC) has a low 10-year patient-survival rate and is challenging to treat. Lenvatinib is a multikinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of RR-DTC. This study aims to assess Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as prognostic markers for patients with RR-DTC treated with lenvatinib. Methods: In this retrospective analysis of the Study of (E7080) LEnvatinib in Differentiated Cancer of the Thyroid (SELECT), patients randomly assigned to receive lenvatinib were classified according to baseline ECOG PS (0 or 1) or baseline NLR (≤3 or >3). The effects of baseline ECOG PS and NLR on progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate (ORR) were evaluated. In addition, the effects of baseline ECOG PS on the change in diameter of target lesions and correlations between baseline NLR and the sums of the diameters of target lesions were calculated. Results: Among patients who received lenvatinib, patients with a baseline ECOG PS of 0 had statistically improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI 0.35-0.77]; p = 0.001), OS (HR 0.42 [CI 0.26-0.69]; p = 0.0004), and ORR (odds ratio [OR] 3.51 [CI 2.02-6.10]; p < 0.0001) compared with patients with a baseline ECOG PS of 1. Patients who received lenvatinib with a baseline NLR ≤3 also had improved PFS (HR 0.43 [CI 0.29-0.65]; p < 0.0001) and OS (HR 0.48 [CI 0.29-0.78]; p = 0.0029) versus patients with a baseline NLR >3. Moreover, patients with a baseline NLR ≤3 had a trend toward increased ORR (OR 1.57 [CI 0.94-2.64]; p = 0.08) compared with patients with a baseline NLR >3. Treatment-emergent adverse events were generally similar among patients who received lenvatinib, irrespective of patients' ECOG PS at baseline. Conclusion: Lower ECOG PS and NLR may provide prognostic value for improved efficacy in patients with RR-DTC. ClinicalTrials.gov no. NCT01321554.

Long-term management of lenvatinib-treated thyroid cancer patients: a real-life experience at a single institution

PURPOSE

The efficacy of lenvatinib for advanced and progressive radioactive iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer is well established. Herein, we retrospectively evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy of lenvatinib in 23 patients treated at a single Institution.

METHODS

Clinical data of all patients treated for a differentiated thyroid cancer with lenvatinib from April 2015 to September 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 23 patients were included. In all, 21 patients received lenvatinib as first-line systemic therapy. Median age at initiation of lenvatinib treatment was 68 (44-90) years. Median duration of the study from initiation of lenvatinib to study end was 23 (2-65) months. The indication for lenvatinib treatment was documented progression of distant metastases in 20 patients and of locally advanced disease in the other 3 and median duration of lenvatinib therapy was 15 (2-64) months. Best treatment responses were: partial response in 6 patients, stable disease in 14, progressive disease in 1, and not evaluable in 2. Median progression-free survival was 25 months (95% CI: 12-40) and median overall survival was 46 months (95% CI: 28-65). Three patients had to discontinue lenvatinib treatment due to serious adverse events and no drug-related death was observed. Ten patients continued lenvatinib for more than 24 months and the only newly registered adverse event after this period of time was one case of G2 proteinuria. Six patients continued lenvatinib treatment beyond documented tumor progression due to oligoprogression or slowly progressive disease (median time 18.5 months, 8-42 months). A total of 14 patients were alive at the end of the study: 11 showed partial response/stable disease on lenvatinib, including 3 who had a stable disease after local ablative therapy for oligoprogressive metastases; 3 had to change treatment, including 2 for lenvatinib-related serious adverse events and 1 for progressive disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term lenvatinib treatment is safe and some patients may experience persistent long-term control of the disease. Late treatment-related AEs rarely occurred. Oligoprogressive and slowly progressive disease can be managed without treatment withdrawal as long as there are some clinical benefits.

Predictors of Response and Survival to Multikinase Inhibitors in Radioiodine Resistant Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Sorafenib and lenvatinib are the only multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) approved for the treatment of radioactive iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC). Although they have been demonstrated to improve progression free survival and overall response rate, the risk of toxicities is very high, worsening patients’ quality of life. Therefore, predicting MKI treatment outcomes in the setting of RR-DTC is very challenging for optimizing patients’ management. The current review provides an overview of the predictive factors for the response and survival of sorafenib and lenvatinib in RR-DTC. In this setting, a systemic therapy should be considered after conducting a multidisciplinary discussion aimed at evaluating the risk-benefit ratio of the treatment and taking into account several clinical, biochemical, and molecular factors. Age, performance status, and cancer-related symptoms are the most important clinical markers to be considered prior to starting MKI treatment, together with tumor burden. Some tissue and circulating biomarkers have been investigated, those involved in the angiogenic pathways being the most promising. Finally, prospective clinical trials aimed at evaluating predictive markers for therapeutic response are needed for tailoring patient management and allowing more appropriate treatment choices.

Kinase-inhibitors for iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer: still far from a structured therapeutic algorithm

The kinase-inhibitors (KIs) sorafenib and lenvatinib demonstrated efficacy in iodine-refractory DTC upon phase III studies. However, evidence allowing a punctual balance of benefits and risks is poor. Furthermore, the lack of a direct comparison hampers to establish the proper sequence of administration. However, some insights may provided: a) indirect comparison between phase III trials showed milder toxicity for sorafenib, which should be preferred in case of cardiovascular comorbidities; b) prospective evidence of efficacy in KIs pre-treated patients is available only for lenvatinib, which should be used as second-line. Promising activity was found for the majority of other tested KIs, but no placebo-controlled trials are available. Emerging, but still early, frontiers include the restoration of iodine-sensitivity and the selective activity on pathogenic mutations. In conclusion, the use of KIs in iodine-refractory DTC is far from a structured therapeutic algorithm.

Synthesis and characterization of CD133 targeted aptamer-drug conjugates for precision therapy of anaplastic thyroid cancer

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is an undifferentiated and highly aggressive type of thyroid cancer and is extremely resistant to standard therapies such as surgical resection and radioactive iodine therapy. Although targeted therapeutic agents including small molecule drugs and monoclonal antibodies are rapidly developed in recent years, no ATC targeted drugs are available to date; thereby, novel targeted therapies are needed to improve the outcomes of ATC patients. Aptamers are single-stranded DNA (or RNA) molecules that can selectively bind to cancer specific antigens, and aptamer-based targeted therapy has certain advantages over that based on antibodies due to its high binding affinity and low immunogenicity. Here, we identified that CD133, a cancer stem cell marker, was specifically expressed in ATC tumor tissues and cells, implying that CD133 is a potential drug target for ATC therapy. Additionally, we successfully obtained a CD133 targeted aptamer AP-1 by paired cell-based SELEX, which can precisely recognize CD133 antigen in vitro. Furthermore, the truncated AP-1-M aptamer from its precursor AP-1 has shown higher binding affinity for CD133, and specifically accumulated in anaplastic thyroid cancer FRO cell derived tumor in vivo. Conjugation of truncated AP-1-M with doxorubicin could dramatically inhibit CD133 positive FRO cell proliferation, induce cell apoptosis in vitro, and also suppress tumor growth in FRO cell xenograft mice in vivo. Our results clearly demonstrated that the CD133 targeted aptamer AP-1-M conjugated with anticancer drugs has potential to become a promising therapeutic approach against ATC in the near future.

Clinical Indications for Treatment with Multi-Kinase Inhibitors in Patients with Radioiodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Differentiated thyroid cancer is usually a slow-growing disease, even if the patients develop distant metastasis. For recurrent or metastatic disease, radioactive iodine therapy is a standard treatment. However, the disease gradually progresses in some of the patients and can ultimately develop into life-threatening conditions. For patients with progressive radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC), multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs) including sorafenib and lenvatinib prolonged progression-free survival compared with placebo in pivotal randomized phase 3 trials, although the benefit in overall survival has not been clearly confirmed, possibly because the patients who received placebo were permitted to cross-over to lenvatinib upon disease progression. Moreover, the adverse events related to MKIs were not negligible. Therefore, the optimal timing of MKI initiation has long been controversial, and physicians should consider various patient and disease factors. Herein, we comprehensively review the clinical factors that can be helpful in determining the initiation of MKIs for patients with RR-DTC.

Lenvatinib as first-line treatment for advanced thyroid cancer: long progression-free survival

PURPOSE

Lenvatinib (LEN) has been approved for the treatment of patients with progressive radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAI-R DTC). Real-life studies reported a lower progression-free survival (PFS) than the registration study, likely due to the more advanced stage of tumors, the more frequent pretreatment with other TKIs, the limited follow-up, and the worse clinical condition of the patients included.

METHODS

We evaluated the clinical data of our cohort of 13 consecutive patients, all receiving LEN as a first-line TKI treatment, and followed-up in a single tertiary Center.

RESULTS

All patients had an ECOG of 0-1 and regional or distant metastases were documented in 61.5% and 77% of patients, respectively. Median PFS was 22 months (95% CI 14-35) with partial response in 69% and stable disease in 31% of patients. All patients experienced at least one adverse event (AE), the most frequent being fatigue, anorexia, diarrhea, and hypertension. The daily dose was reduced in 70% of patients and only one patient (7.7%) discontinued the drug for AEs.

CONCLUSION

In this series of RAI-R DTC patients, with the unique features to have an ECOG 0 or 1 and to be naive for TKI treatments, PFS was the longest among all real-life published so far, with the highest rate of patients with partial response and one of the lowest drug discontinuation rate for AEs. The correct timing of treatment start, the tailoring of the dose, and a proper management of the AEs may have a significant impact on the treatment response to LEN.

Multikinase inhibitors in thyroid cancer: timing of targeted therapy

In the 9 years since the publication of our 2011 review of targeted treatment of thyroid cancer with multikinase inhibitors, much has changed in the landscape of this heterogeneous disease. New multikinase and selective inhibitor treatments for medullary thyroid cancer, radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer and anaplastic thyroid cancer have completed trials and improved progression-free survival. Many physicians are concerned by dose-limiting adverse effects of these drugs and are wary to begin treatment in patients who are systemically well but have marked disease burden, which makes the timing of treatment initiation challenging. Published mechanistic data on tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have helped guide our understanding of how to dose effectively with these drugs. A major goal in TKI therapy is to optimize inhibition of oncogenic kinase drivers while maintaining patient quality of life. Real-world data have now been published on how TKIs have fared outside the clinical trial environment. In this Review, we provide a summary of published data on the efficacy of TKIs in clinical practice, to provide clinicians with a more realistic view of how their patients will manage and respond to TKI therapy. Furthermore, we review the data on mechanisms of inhibition, outcomes and adverse effects of TKIs and provide an update on targeted treatment of thyroid cancer, focusing on optimizing the timing of treatment initiation.

Molecular-Driven Therapy in Advanced Thyroid Cancer

OPINION STATEMENT

With a growing understanding of the biologic drivers of different thyroid cancers, there is an ongoing revolution in the treatment of aggressive and advanced disease variants. This includes matching patients with specific point mutations or gene fusions to targeted therapies (e.g., selective RET inhibitors), delineating patients who are likely to respond to immune checkpoint inhibition (i.e., PD-L1-positive tumors) and even priming responses to traditional therapies such as radioactive iodine (via concomitant MAPK pathway inhibition). There is also a growing role for genomics in the prognostication of thyroid tumors to aid the adjudication of appropriate treatments. Taking stock of the current state of the field, recent successes should be celebrated, but there still remains a long road ahead to improve outcomes for patients, particularly for radioactive-iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer and anaplastic thyroid cancer. In this review, we summarize findings from recent clinical trials and highlight promising preclinical data supporting molecular-driven therapy in advanced thyroid cancer. Ultimately, enrollment in clinical trials remains paramount to the advancement of thyroid cancer care.

Safety and Quality-of-Life Data from an Italian Expanded Access Program of Lenvatinib for Treatment of Thyroid Cancer

Background: Lenvatinib, a multikinase inhibitor, is for progressive radioiodine-refractory-differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC) patients. However, there are a lot of drug-related adverse events (AEs) that can affect the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The aims of this study were (a) to evaluate, and compared with other series, the safety of lenvatinib used in RR-DTC patients enrolled in an Italian expanded access program (EAP), and (b) to evaluate their QoL during treatment with lenvatinib. Methods: To evaluate the safety, we recorded and graded all AEs during the 6 months of lenvatinib treatment in 39 RR-DTC patients. We compared the safety profile of lenvatinib observed in our patients with that reported in the study of (E7080) levatinib in differentiated cancer of the thyroid (SELECT) and tumeurs thyroidiennes refractaires (TUTHYREF) network studies. Moreover, we evaluated the QoL in our series by using the European Organization for Research and Treatment (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 and the pain visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: The most frequent AEs among our 39 RR-DTC patients were hypertension (80.5%), fatigue (58.3%), diarrhea (36.1%), stomatitis (33.3%), hand/foot syndrome (33.3%), and weight loss (30.5%). The most prevalent grade 3/4 AE was hypertension (25%). When compared with previous studies (i.e., SELECT and TUTHYREF), a significantly lower percentage of our patients experienced diarrhea, nausea, proteinuria, and weight loss. No statistically significant differences in the QoL of our patients evaluated before, during, and at the end of follow-up (6 months after starting the therapy) were found. However, a slight improvement of the general health and emotional and cognitive status associated with a slightly worsening of physical role and social functioning was observed during these 6 months. Pain, dyspnea, insomnia, and constipation moved toward better values, while fatigue, nausea and vomiting, appetite loss, and diarrhea worsened. By comparing the pain VAS, an overall reduction of the level of pain was found. Conclusions: The safety profile of the drug was similar to that already reported with some differences in the prevalence and severity of the AEs. Regarding the QoL, the EAP showed a trend of improvement of the global health status and a reduction of symptoms correlated to the disease. The clinical impact of fatigue, anorexia/weight loss and stomatitis, mainly due to the drug itself, continues to represent the major issue in the management of these patients.

Novel Therapeutics in Radioactive Iodine-Resistant Thyroid Cancer

Iodine-resistant cancers account for the vast majority of thyroid related mortality and, until recently, there were limited therapeutic options. However, over the last decade our understanding of the molecular foundation of thyroid function and carcinogenesis has driven the development of many novel therapeutics. These include FDA approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors and small molecular inhibitors of VEGFR, BRAF, MEK, NTRK and RET, which collectively have significantly changed the prognostic outlook for this patient population. Some therapeutics can re-sensitize de-differentiated cancers to iodine, allowing for radioactive iodine treatment and improved disease control. Remarkably, there is now an FDA approved treatment for BRAF-mutated patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer, previously considered invariably and rapidly fatal. The treatment landscape for iodine-resistant thyroid cancer is changing rapidly with many new targets, therapeutics, clinical trials, and approved treatments. We provide an up-to-date review of novel therapeutic options in the treatment of iodine-resistant thyroid cancer.