Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: Biology, pathogenesis, prognostic factors, and treatment approaches Journal Article
| Authors: | Are, C.; Shaha, A. R. |
| Article Title: | Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: Biology, pathogenesis, prognostic factors, and treatment approaches |
| Abstract: | Background: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one of the most aggressive solid tumors known to affect humans and carries a dismal prognosis. Our primary aim was to review its epidemiology, biology, risk factors, and prognostic indicators. We also reviewed the individual and combined roles of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and newer therapeutic options in the management of ATC. Methods: An extensive literature review was conducted to include all published reports on ATC. The changing trends in the management of anaplastic thyroid cancer were analyzed to summarize the current practice of management of ATC. Results: Although ATC is rare, there has been a decline in its incidence worldwide. ATC accounts for more than half of the 1200 deaths per year attributed to thyroid cancer. Long-term survivors are rare, with > 75% and 50% of patients harboring cervical nodal disease and metastatic disease, respectively, at presentation. ATC can arise de novo or from preexisting well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Surgical management has shifted from tracheostomy only for palliation to curative resection when possible. Tracheostomy is performed for impending obstruction rather than for prophylaxis. Radiotherapy has evolved from postoperative administration only to preoperative treatment, combining preoperative and postoperative treatment and using higher doses, along with hyperfractionating and accelerating dose schedules. Chemotherapy has changed from monotherapy to combination therapy, and newer drugs such as paclitaxel show promise. Similarly, novel angiogenesis-inhibiting agents are currently being used, with early reports of some benefit. Conclusions: Despite multimodality approaches, ATC still carries a dismal prognosis. This should provoke innovative strategies beyond conventional methods to tackle this uniformly lethal disease. © 2006 The Society of Surgical Oncology, Inc. |
| Keywords: | cancer chemotherapy; cancer survival; treatment outcome; survival analysis; cancer surgery; surgical technique; pathogenesis; review; angiogenesis inhibitor; cisplatin; doxorubicin; drug safety; multimodality cancer therapy; nonhuman; unspecified side effect; paclitaxel; cancer radiotherapy; postoperative care; preoperative care; radiation dose; combined modality therapy; methotrexate; antineoplastic agent; cancer palliative therapy; metastasis; biology; etoposide; melphalan; vincristine; radioactive iodine; prognostic factors; protein farnesyltransferase inhibitor; carcinoma; combretastatin a4; bleomycin; thyroid carcinoma; thyroid neoplasms; osteogenic protein 1; cervical lymph node; tracheostomy; anaplastic carcinoma; spinal cord disease; anaplastic thyroid carcinoma; treatment approaches; manumycin |
| Journal Title: | Annals of Surgical Oncology |
| Volume: | 13 |
| Issue: | 4 |
| ISSN: | 1068-9265 |
| Publisher: | Springer |
| Date Published: | 2006-04-01 |
| Start Page: | 453 |
| End Page: | 464 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1245/aso.2006.05.042 |
| PUBMED: | 16474910 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 108" - "Export Date: 4 June 2012" - "CODEN: ASONF" - "Source: Scopus" |
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