Breakthroughs in Thyroid Cancer Treatment

Unusual patterns of cell growth on or around the thyroid gland are often diagnosed as thyroid cancer. There are four different types of tumors associated with thyroid cancer, most of which vary according to the area of the thyroid gland that is affected. These include papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic tumors. Of these, follicular and papillary tumors are most commonly diagnosed.

For reasons that are not yet fully understood, the rate of diagnosis of thyroid cancers has skyrocketed in recent years. Some researchers have argued that environmental factors such as radiation exposure may be to blame for the alarming trend, while others have contended that the increased number of diagnoses have resulted from improved rates of detection, rather than an upward climb in the prevalence of the disease itself.

Although the origins of the thyroid cancer spike remain unclear, scientists are in agreement on one point: the prognoses for most types of thyroid cancer are now better than ever. As researchers around the globe continue to tackle this problem, a slew of new and innovative treatment methods are being developed. This week, we'll take a look at a few of the most promising findings to emerge in recent months.

New Information about Genetic Roots of Thyroid Cancer May Help Deliver More Effective Treatments

Researchers at Canada's Queens University have published a significant new insight into the genetic roots of thyroid cancer. The details about a specific component of cell development in thyroid cancer may help develop future treatments that target the cell growth mechanism, according to the scientists.

The researchers looked closely at the unusual behaviors exhibited by proteins within cells associated with thyroid cancers. They stumbled on an explanation that explains the proteins' odd behavior and develop an assessment for determining whether a specific genetic mutation that causes the abnormal action is present.

Based on this information, the researchers expressed confidence that the findings will prove to be useful in the development of future treatments for thyroid cancer. These treatments could be helpful in the care of patients with genetic or environmental forms of the disease, according to the lead scientist who oversaw the study.

New Treatment for Advanced Thyroid Cancer Discovered

Overall, the general prognosis for thyroid cancer is good, as long as the disease is discovered early in the course of its progression and proper, effective treatment is provided. However, for certain rare types of thyroid cancer, or advanced cases of the disease, the outlook is often far more grim.

The findings of a study that was recently unveiled at a national conference of the American Society for Clinical Oncology in Chicago may represent a crucial step forward in the treatment of advanced cases of thyroid cancer. According to the researchers who led the study, an aggressive treatment protocol based on the drug axitinib was shown to reduce or stall tumor growth in nearly 75% of patients.

Although treatment options for patients with advanced thyroid cancer have traditionally been quite limited, the axitinib regimen produced remarkable results. Not only did the drug effectively end tumor growth in most patients tested, it actually incited tumor shrinkage in many cases. In addition, the drug appears to have prevented the growth of new tumors.

While the researchers agree that more fine-tuning will be necessary before a standard treatment protocol can be devised, they express their hope that an axitinib-based treatment for advanced thyroid cancer will be fast-tracked to the market in the near future.

 Newly-Developed Treatment Effective Against Dangerous Calcium Accumulation That Often Accompanies Parathyroid Cancer

Although the prognosis for parathyroid cancer is relatively good, doctors have long been challenged to treat the rapid accumulation of calcium in the bloodstream that is a common side effect of this form of the disease. In many cases, the excess calcium presents more of an immediate threat than the cancer itself, causing secondary symptoms such as dehydration, mental confusion, kidney damage and, in some cases, death. However, the effective treatment options for the condition have long been very limited.

The results of a recent study may represent a significant turnaround in this situation. According to scientists at Columbia University, the drug cinacalcet may advance the standard protocols for managing parathyroid cancer and resulting calcium imbalances.

The new drug works directly on the calcium receptor in the production of parathyroid hormone, thus providing the fast and effective treatment for systemic calcium imbalance that has eluded researchers for decades. The researchers report that they are confident the new findings will significantly improve the outlook for patients diagnosed with advanced parathyroid cancer.

If you're concerned about thyroid cancer, talk with your doctor to develop a personalized treatment and monitoring plan. Please check back each week for more of the thyroid health news you need for optimal well-being.