Precision medicine is a promising field that’s opening doors to novel therapeutics for many patients. But how does it fit into thyroid cancer specifically? What treatments are available or in the pipeline, for which patient subgroup, and what are the potential benefits? We’ll start off our series by exploring these questions, and we’ve invited Dr Eric Sherman, medical oncologist and thyroid cancer expert at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, to provide his insights.
Funding statement:
This independent educational activity is supported by an educational grant from Eli Lilly. The educational content has been developed by Liberum IME in conjunction with an independent steering committee; Eli Lilly has had no influence on the content of this education.

References:
American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Thyroid Cancer. Updated January 12, 2021. Accessed November 23, 2021. American Cancer Society website. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/thyroid-cancer/about/key-statistics.html.
Araque KA, Gubbi S, Klubo-Gwiezdzinska J. Updates on the Management of Thyroid Cancer. Horm Metab Res. 2020;52(8):562-577. doi: 10.1055/a-1089-7870.
Cancer Connect. Therapies Show Initial Effectiveness in Subset of Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Cancer Connect website. Published July 18, 2018. Accessed December 14, 2021. https://news.cancerconnect.com/thyroid-cancer/therapies-show-initial-effectiveness-in-subset-of-papillary-thyroid-cancer?redir=1.
ClinicalTrials.gov website search results: pembrolizumab / Thyroid Cancer / Phase 2. Accessed December 14, 2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=pembrolizumab&cond=Thyroid+Cancer&age_v=&gndr=&type=&rslt=&phase=1&Search=Apply
Dabrafenib With or Without Trametinib in Treating Patients With Recurrent Thyroid Cancer. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01723202. Updated February 25, 2021. Accessed December 14, 2021.
Drilon A, Laetsch TW, Kummar S, et al. Efficacy of Larotrectinib in TRK Fusion-Positive Cancers in Adults and Children. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(8):731-739. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1714448.
Pekova B, Sykorova V, Mastnikova K, et al. NTRK Fusion Genes in Thyroid Carcinomas: Clinicopathological Characteristics and Their Impacts on Prognosis. Cancers. 2021;13(8):1932. doi: 10.3390/cancers13081932.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration. FDA approves selpercatinib for lung and thyroid cancers with RET gene mutations or fusions. FDA website. Updated May 11, 2020. Accessed November 23, 2021. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-selpercatinib-lung-and-thyroid-cancers-ret-gene-mutations-or-fusions.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration. FDA approves pembrolizumab for adults and children with TMB-H solid tumors. Updated June 17, 2020. Accessed December 14, 2021. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-approvals-and-databases/fda-approves-pembrolizumab-adults-and-children-tmb-h-solid-tumors#:~:text=The%20recommended%20pembrolizumab%20dosage%20regimen%20for%20TMB-H%20solid,pediatric%20patients.%20View%20full%20prescribing%20information%20for%20KEYTRUDA.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration. FDA approves larotrectinib for solid tumors with NTRK gene fusions. FDA website. Updated December 14, 2018. Accessed November 25, 2021. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/fda-approves-larotrectinib-solid-tumors-ntrk-gene-fusions.
Weaver CH. Precision Cancer Medicine Treatment of Thyroid Cancers. Cancer Connect website. Published October 24, 2020. Updated September 20, 2021. Accessed November 23, 2021. https://news.cancerconnect.com/thyroid-cancer/precision-cancer-medicine-treatment-of-thyroid-cancers.