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| EMGARGOED FOR RELEASE Oct. 14, 2006, 9:45 a.m. PDT |
Contact: Jennifer Reising at jreising@reisingcommunications.com |
Use of Promising Cancer Drug Shows Response in Common Thyroid Tumor
(PHOENIX)—Sorafenib, an oral multi-kinase inhibitor that targets tumor growth and vascularization, has shown promising effects in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) — the most common thyroid cancer, according to a new study being presented on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2006, at the 77th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) in Phoenix.
Papillary carcinoma typically arises as an irregular, solid or cystic mass that arises from otherwise normal thyroid tissue. This cancer has a high cure rate with ten year survival rates for all patients with papillary thyroid cancer estimated at 80 percent to 90 percent. However, for some patients with metastatic disease, conventional therapy is not effective.
“Recent clinical trials have shown that a new agent, Sorafenib, has clinical and biological activity for patients with metastatic PTC,” explains lead researcher Marcia S. Brose, MD, PhD, from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. “Our goal was to identify early effects of Sorafenib on tumors unresponsive to radioiodine through both clinical and histological studies and to ultimately increase the survival rates by attacking the tumor at an earlier stage.”
Using positron emission tomography (PET) scans performed at four to eight weeks, Dr. Brose’s studies revealed that for most patients, there was an early decrease in metabolic activity of these tumors, while computerized tomography (CT) scans at eight weeks also showed a decrease in tumor volume. In two cases, tumor tissue was removed at one week and two weeks of treatment. Both lesions had shrunk in size, and were necrotic (dead) in the center. A marker for proliferation, Ki67, was decreased at this early stage as well when compared to pre-treatment tissue, and BRAF protein was also significantly decreased.
“Our studies show that Sorafenib has early inhibitory effects on these tumors, and may lead to insights into the mechanism of action of this agent in thyroid cancer,” concludes Dr. Brose.
For more information on thyroid cancer, visit the ATA web site at www.thyroid.org.
The newest research in mechanisms, diagnosis, and clinical management of thyroid disease will be the focus of the ATA Annual Meeting, Oct. 11–15, 2006, at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa in Phoenix. The meeting will bring together thyroid experts from the United States and around the world.
The ATA is the North American professional society for physicians and researchers specializing in diseases of the thyroid gland. The ATA promotes excellence and innovation in clinical care, research, education, and public advocacy.
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