Dabrafenib Plus Trametinib for Treating Aggressive Thyroid Cancer

The combination of dabrafenib and trametinib was found effective in treating BRAF mutation-positive anaplastic thyroid cancer, and the findings were published in the leading scientific journal Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Thyroid canceris cancer of the thyroid gland, an endocrine organ at the front of the neck below the thyroid cartilage. It is the 2nd most common cancer among women in our country, but most thyroid cancers have a favorable disease course. There are 4 main subtypes: papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Anaplastic thyroid canceraccounts for less than %5 of thyroid cancers and spreads rapidly with an aggressive disease course.

This article concerns a phase-2 clinical trial involving patients with the BRAF V600E mutation, 16 in total. They received oral tablets: 2 times daily, 150 mg dabrafenib (Tarinlar), and 1 time daily, 2 mg trametinib (Mekinist). In thyroid cancers, BRAF mutationpositivity is %30-50.

All patients had previously received treatment for anaplastic thyroid cancer with radiotherapy and/or surgery; in 6, cancer had worsened despite systemic treatment (progression).

In this study, with median follow-up of 47 weeks, %69 of patients responded to treatment (among 16 patients, 11 responded), and 7 continued responding when the study was published. Because patients remained responsive, final median response duration, overall survival and duration of disease control with treatment could not be reported.

The most commonly reported side effects were weakness, fever and nausea.

These findings are an important development toward a new, effective treatment for anaplastic thyroid cancer, which has few treatment options and tends to progress despite treatment. In the coming period, all patients with anaplastic thyroid cancer may be asked to undergo genetic testing to assess tumor mutations.