Thyroglobulin fluctuations in patients with iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma on lenvatinib treatment - initial experience

Sci Rep. 2016 Jun 16:6:28081. doi: 10.1038/srep28081.

Abstract

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have shown clinical effectiveness in iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The corresponding role of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) in iodine-refractory DTC has not been investigated yet. 9 patients (3 female, 61 ± 8y) with progressive iodine-refractory DTC starting on lenvatinib were considered. Tumor restaging was performed every 2-3 months including contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT, RECIST 1.1). Serum Tg was measured and compared to imaging findings. After treatment initiation, serum Tg levels dropped in all patients with a median reduction of 86.2%. During long-term follow-up (median, 25.2 months), fluctuations in Tg could be observed in 8/9 subjects. According to RECIST, 6/9 subjects achieved a partial response or stable disease with the remaining 3/9 experiencing progressive disease (2/3 with Tg levels rising above baseline). All of the patients with disease progression presented with a preceding continuous rise in serum Tg, whereas tumor marker oscillations in the subjects with controlled disease were only intermittent. Initiation of lenvatinib in iodine-refractory DTC patients is associated with a significant reduction in serum Tg levels as a marker of treatment response. In the course of treatment, transient Tg oscillations are a frequent phenomenon that may not necessarily reflect morphologic tumor progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / blood*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / radiotherapy
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / blood*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / radiotherapy
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phenylurea Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Quinolines / therapeutic use*
  • Radiation Tolerance / drug effects*
  • Thyroglobulin / blood*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / blood*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Quinolines
  • Thyroglobulin
  • lenvatinib