Redifferentiating agents in non-radioiodine avid cancer
Seregni, E.; Vellani, C.; Castellani, M.R.; Maccauro, M.; Pallotti, F.; Scaramellini, G.; Guzzo, M.; Greco, A.
Quarterly Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Official Publication of the Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine and the International Association of Radiopharmacology and Section of the Society Of. 53(5): 513-519
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 1824-4785 PMID: 19910904 Document Number: 630520
Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant cancer of the endocrine system. Treatment for well differentiated forms include surgery and radioactive iodine ablation. When cancer cells exhibit a less differentiated phenotype they may no longer be able to accumulate iodine, making 131-I administration ineffective. Recent studies have demonstrated the important role of therapeutic agents that have redifferentiating potential, leading to reactivation and expression of thyrocyte-specific genes, including those responsible for iodine uptake. This review will discuss the results of the most recent studies on drugs with redifferentiating properties and their application in patients with radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer.